FAMILY & CHILDREN'S COUNSELING SERVICES, INC.
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      • Jayme Schlager - Office Assistant
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      • April Nicole- Billing Manager
      • Roxanna Taylor- Supervised Visitation Monitor
      • Abigail Mebrahtu Supervised Visitation Monitor
      • Ashlyn Crouch Supervised Visitation Monitor
      • Tiffany Runge, AMFT 112914
      • Emily Medina, AMFT 107900
      • Deb Auran, Therapist Trainee
      • Jasmine Madera, MS, APCC 8239
      • Jasmine Madera, MS, APCC 8239 Clinico profesional
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    • Types of Therapy >
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        • For Schools and Districts- PBIS Partners
      • E-Motion >
        • Movement- Stored Trauma Therapy
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        • Supervised Visitation in Chico, California
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      • Become a Supervised Visitation Monitor
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      • Why Do We Have Empty Chairs?
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​"Help! My Kids Have Been Taken by CPS"
​

If your child/ren have recently been detained by the State (Children's Services Division- CSD / Child Protective Services - CPS), you are probably feeling a roller coaster of emotions.  These emotions - not to mention the process itself- can be overwhelming. (But now is exactly not the time to act overwhelmed- ugh!)


What to Do If Your Kids Have Been Detained by CPS/CSD

These are suggestions only.  Talk with your Attorney, Case Worker and/or Therapist, and follow any Court orders related to your case. These suggestions should not be considered therapy.  Please contact us if you would like information about therapy services.

First

Give the Social Worker contact information for the other parent, family members or close friends that may be able to care for your children while you go through the Court process. If you do not have a family member or close friend who is able to provide care, your child/ren may be placed in foster care.

Next

Attend the initial Court hearing.  This should happen very quickly after your child/ren has/have been detained. This is when the Judge will decide whether your children can go home or if they will need to stay in another place while you work on a family plan. 

The judge will likely appoint an attorney for you at this time.

You will most likely have two or three Court dates to settle issues related to determining where your child will live, visitation, and your family plan.
​
Then

You will likely be required to do a variety of tasks (goals) before you can regain custody of your child/ren.  This list of tasks is called a family plan or action plan. This may include attending sobriety, parenting, anger management and/or domestic violence classes, obtaining employment, finding adequate housing, demonstrating an ability to nurture and appropriately discipline your children, as well as the ability to provide food, clothing and toys.  Keep in mind, there are specific time limits for parents to show progress. 

You most likely will also be given time to visit w
ith your children (this depends upon severity and circumstances).  The visits will likely be monitored (supervised) at first, and will move toward unsupervised as you show progress in completing stated goals and in being a safe person for your child/ children.

A Stressful Time

Many parents report feeling stressed by trying to juggle sobriety, random testing, classes, meetings, visitation, work schedules and court dates- all while worrying about (and terribly  missing) their kids.

Children, too, feel the stress of an unexpected move, new surroundings, limited parental contact, and sometimes separation from siblings and/or other family members.


It is recommended that parents and children attend therapy during this stressful time.  Therapy can focus on increasing coping skills, overcoming grief and emotional upset, realizing future plans, improving communication and relational skills and/or a variety of these (or other) topics and treatment goals. 

Reunification

Whether the Court mandates counseling or not, it may be a helpful addition to your family plan.  Counseling can assist you and/or your child with:
- establishing and maintaining safety
- adjusting to change
- issues related to separation and reunification 

- dealing with anxiety and stress
- creating meaningful bonding / attachment times
- communicating effectively with each other and your treatment team
- recognizing behaviors or patterns that contributed to CPS / CSD involvement in the first place
- exploring healthy alternatives to create a more desired lifestyle
- addressing other issues or concerns specific to your family and situation

FCCS offers a family counseling program specifically for families who are (or who have been) separated for a time and/or who are facing potential State involvement and/or potential child removal from home. Check it out here.

Feeling Overwhelmed

Additionally, here are some suggestions to help keep your 'overwhelmtion' at bay:


- Remember, the main goal of the Court and your Social Worker is to reunite your kids with you- provided it is safe to do so.
- Try to think of this as a 'wake up call' or 'starting point' for a new life; take advantage of all of the resources and learning opportunities.
-  No matter how much you want to take your frustrations out on your Social Worker, resist the urge; he/she can be your biggest fan and strongest support if you collaborate and cooperate on reaching established goals.
- Remember, you are not the only person who has been here; many others have walked this path and regained custody of their child/ren.
- Connect with others who are on the same positive path and avoid those who are negative influences.
- Look to professionals, other parents, friends and family who can offer emotional support when you need it (and you will!).
- Understand that the guardians or foster parents have Court ordered rules to follow, as well (such as monitoring phone calls and only allowing for visits during specific approved times).
- Try your very best to make every meeting, class, counseling session and visit; meet or exceed expectations.
- Get a notebook and write (in pen) everything that happens (contact with people who are working on the case, attendance at counseling, classes, etc.).
- Keep your Social Worker and Attorney updated; provide them with attendance logs and information on your personal progress. If they don't call you in between Court dates, call or email them with updates.

- Take care of you (exercise, pray, enjoy nice weather, read a book, dance- whatever it is that keeps you healthy, stable and on track).
- Eat healthy, drink clean water and get plenty of rest.
- Remember the ultimate goal- reuniting with your kids.
​- 
Find the Supervised Visitation flyer by the Judicial Council of California here.
- Find the California parent handbook on navigating your child dependency case here.

- Take one day at a time... breathe in... breathe out... smile, you are making progress!

Finding Help
​

​The FCCS staff has experience and training in child detainment / dependency situations, supervised visitation and counseling families in transition.  

If you would like more information on Parent- Child counseling, please contact us.



HELPING FAMILIES HEAL, PLAY AND LOVE!


Hours

M-F: 9am - 6pm 
and by appointment 

Telephone

800-430-4490
or go to Meet Us for individual direct contact

Email

info@healplaylove.org
or go to Contact for
department contact
Various legal disclaimers: The persons depicted on this site are models.  Photos do not represent or guarantee results.  Contact for service areas.  This site uses cookies. Your use of this site implies your agreement to the use of cookies. See Privacy Policy for more information.  California residents see the California Consumer Privacy Act.

FCCS is directed by Melinda Haynes, MA, California LMFT license number 102308.  Oklahoma LMFT license number 1153. North Carolina LMFT license number 2143.

​The National Supervised Visitation online training program is a subsidiary of FCCS and can be found at 
https://www.SupervisedVisitationTraining.com.  Professional consulting for mental and behavioral health professionals is available at www.MelindaHaynes.com.  Other connected but unrelated sites are Kate & Mel, Can We Talk? and The Motley Ms. 


  • Home
    • Crisis Information
    • Covid-19 >
      • Beat Lockdown Anxiety with These Mindfulness Tips
    • Privacy Policy >
      • California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
    • Can Therapy Help Me?
    • Can Therapy Help My Child?
    • Help! My Kids Have Been Taken by CPS >
      • California CSD
    • Consumer Privacy HIPAA
  • About
    • Brochures
    • Folletos en espanol
    • History
    • What We Do
    • Meet Us | Our Team >
      • Jayme Schlager - Office Assistant
      • Bryony Hottendorf - Program Manager, Supervised Visitation
      • April Nicole- Billing Manager
      • Roxanna Taylor- Supervised Visitation Monitor
      • Abigail Mebrahtu Supervised Visitation Monitor
      • Ashlyn Crouch Supervised Visitation Monitor
      • Tiffany Runge, AMFT 112914
      • Emily Medina, AMFT 107900
      • Deb Auran, Therapist Trainee
      • Jasmine Madera, MS, APCC 8239
      • Jasmine Madera, MS, APCC 8239 Clinico profesional
      • Melinda Haynes, MA, LMFT. President and CEO
    • As Seen On
    • Trauma-Informed
    • Attachment Trauma Recovery >
      • Origins of Attachment Trauma
      • Signs of Attachment Trauma in Adults and Children
      • Therapy for Attachment Trauma
    • Mission Vision Philosophy
    • Values
  • Services
    • Therapy or Counseling >
      • Online Therapy >
        • Online Therapy- Questions and Answers
      • Family Therapy
      • Child Therapy
      • Teen Therapy
      • HSP
      • Reunification Therapy
      • Foster /Kinship
      • Post-Adoption
      • Family Maintenance
      • EPIC Family
    • Types of Therapy >
      • Cognitive-Behavioral (CBT)
      • Play Therapy
      • Play Therapy for Adults
      • Multi-Sensory Integration
      • Parent-Child Therpay
      • Experiential Therapy
      • REBT
      • EMDR
      • School Based Family Counseling >
        • For Schools and Districts- PBIS Partners
      • E-Motion >
        • Movement- Stored Trauma Therapy
      • Mindfulness
    • Supervised Visitation >
      • Online Visits
      • Getting Started
      • California Supervised Visitation >
        • Supervised Visitation in Chico, California
      • Facilitated Visitation
      • Monitored Exchange
    • Family Preservation
    • Groups >
      • Camp Fire Support Group
      • Confident Kids
      • Productive Parenting
    • Kids Behavior Coaching
    • Daycare / School- Based Services
    • Associate Clinical Supervision
    • Workshops
    • Online Learning Center >
      • Become a Supervised Visitation Monitor
    • PBIS Partners >
      • Why Do We Have Empty Chairs?
      • Signs A Student May Benefit
      • Why Should My School Collaborate with FCCS?
      • School-Based Services May Include
  • Insurance / Fees
    • Important Note About Insurance
  • Helpful Links
    • Community Services >
      • 2020 California Fire Resources
      • Community Services- Butte County California
      • Free Mental Health Free Therapy
    • Mental Health Apps
    • Recommended Reading
    • Places to Go- Family Fun >
      • Places to Go in California >
        • Places to Go in Butte County California
        • Places to Go in Shasta County California
        • Places to Go in Fairfield, California
        • Places to Go Suisun City, California
      • Places to Go in North Carolina
      • Places to Go in Oklahoma >
        • Places to Go in Tulsa, Oklahoma
        • Places to Go in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
    • Weight Management >
      • Why We Develop Bad Habits
      • Diets Don't Work
      • Mapping Out Success
      • Journaling
      • Making New Habits
      • Creating Staying Power
    • Can We Talk?
    • Life On Their Terms >
      • Is My Partner Abusive?
      • The Cycle of Violence
      • Dangers of Staying
      • Healing From an Abusive Relationship
    • What is a Treatment Plan?
    • Of Caterpillars and Courage
    • Helping Kids Feel Safe in a Scary World
    • LifeStyle Wellbeing- Creating a New You
  • Contact
    • Tour the Chico Office
  • Career Center
    • What We Offer
    • Now Hiring LMFT LPCC LCSW Supervisor- CHICO, CA
    • Now Hiring Client Services Manager | Front Desk
    • Now Hiring Family Monitor
    • Taking Applications for Therapist Associate >
      • We Help You Build Your Private Practice