At risk for CPS Removal?

If you are struggling with complicated situations, like:

• Homelessness

• Substance Use Disorder

• Food Insecurity

• Poverty

• Housing Instability

• Domestic Violence

• Criminal History or Incarceration

You may be worried about potential Child Protective Services (CPS) involvement and if you'll be legally allowed to parent your baby. Maybe you already have children in the system or have lost parental rights. You're thinking private adoption may give you more control compared with State involvement.

Note: In Utah, Child Protective Services is called CPS, but in other states, it may be called by a different name. It may also be referred to as the Department of Child Services (DCS) or the Department of Family and Children Services (DCFS).

While private adoption could give you some control, it isn't the only option. If you are navigating a Substance Use Disorder, depending on the state, you may have options. Some programs allow you to work on your recovery while your baby (and possibly other children) remains with you.

While Child Protective Services is a complicated, flawed system in many parts of the country, involvement with CPS does not mean automatic termination of your parental rights. In some cases, children remain with their parent(s) as the family receives support and services to tackle the struggles they may be facing. In others, kinship (family or friends) can house your kids while you work on getting stable and back on your feet. Sometimes, the reality is your children are placed in foster care while you hopefully receive the resources, referrals, and services necessary to reunify. 

While it may be scary, CPS may be able to help you parent if that is your ultimate goal. Involvement with CPS does not offer all the answers and comes with potential risk; however, when it works as designed, the goal is for you to receive the support you need and deserve in hopes your family can remain intact.

If you are confident in choosing adoption, make sure you take extra steps to protect yourself. Just because you’re facing complicated circumstances doesn’t mean you are any less deserving of safety in adoption.