Materials on Parents' and Children's Due Process Rights in CPS Investigations and Removals

    Most practitioners in juvenile court understand the rights that parents and children have after the state removes a child from the home based on an allegation of abuse or neglect.  But what rights to parents and children have to remain together in the first place and to be free from excessive government intervention?  And what evidence should the state have to muster to investigate and intervene in the family's life short of removing the child to foster care?  The materials below discuss the due process rights of parents and children throughout the spectrum of the child protective system, from CPS investigations to foster care removal.  Many thanks to Corrie Holton, whose assistance was invaluable in preparing these materials.

• Our Children and Our Liberties Powerpoint
• Overview of Due Process Concerns in CPS Investigations (Draft)
• State Standards for CPS Intervention Chart (Draft)
• State Standards for Removal Chart (Draft)

For more on the use of safety plans and safety resources in the state of Georgia,  visit the Georgia Office of the Child Advocate's website for a July 2009 analysis of these practices.