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View Full Version : A big custody mess in the Houston Texas area


IzziesGramma
Jan 27, 2009, 12:43 PM
My 18 month old granddaughter is in CPS custody. I turned in my daughter to CPS because she stated to me that she was doing drugs (heated argument.. she popped off to push my buttons) and I was trying to protect my granddaughter. I was unable to take custody of her because my husband has cancer, and there is a possibility of it spreading again. We are waiting to find out his test results, and I explained this to the judge. (My husband is not bood kin to my daughter or granddaughter.)
My daughter has visitation with the baby once a week (supervised) and I usually go for the visits also.
The Social Worker assigned to her case told her that even if I were to request custody of the baby, they would not give me custody of her because I turned the baby over to them. (Again, I explained that there was a possibility of my husbands cancer spreading again, and I couldn't take her right now)
They also said that they would not look into my mother (great-grandmother) taking custody of her. They want to give custody of the baby to the "presumed" father. (My daughter was already pregnant when they met). They are still married, and his name is on the birth certificate, but he lives in another state. (We live in Houston, TX) He left them in August 08, has never sent a penny to help support the baby, and was also told that he was not the father. (No paternity test has been done as of yet) My daughter gave CPS the info on the "alleged" father, but they have not contacted him for a paternity test (that I know of).
If my daughter gets the divorce from the "presumed" father, can CPS still give him custody of the baby? Also, if when my husbands test results come back, we find out he is OK, and he gives me the OK to try to get custody of the baby, can CPS block me from getting custody? We own our home, we are financially secure, both employed, and we live in a very good neighborhood.
Also, my daughter said that her case worker told her that they would not return the baby to her even if her boyfriend (who the original argument was over, he smokes pot & God knows what else) moves out of the apartment, she gets a job, and goes through all the parenting classes, drug & alcohol counseling, etc, because "her apartment is not a stable environment". She said they base that on where her apartment is located. (I think they are saying it's not a "good" apartment complex)

So, to cap off: Myself, my daughter, and my granddaughter all live in the Houston, TX area. "Presumed" father lives in MO, "Alleged" father lives in AZ, and Great-Grandmother lives in the Phoenix, AZ area.

Any help anyone can give on this mess will be greatly appreciated!

startover22
Jan 27, 2009, 07:50 PM
She has a year to get her self together. You may just have to sit and wait and go to all of those supervised visits with her. Let me tell you something, and I want to make it very clear. HER BABY is first priority, so it should not be a problem for her to kick the guy out, get a job, NEVER EVER miss a visitation, go through therapy for drug abuse... she should do what ever they ask her to.
As far as you go, I understand that it would be rather hard to care for a small child along side of taking care of your husband. IF you would want to, you could go to the social worker and tell her you have changed your mind. You need to know you would be able to handle this though. I have never heard of someone being denied because they turned a mother in. I will have to actually ask the appropriate person that question if I can get a hold of her. From your post I see you DO want to take the child in... is that correct?