[RhondaVas77]

Years ago my Parental Rights where terminated by Texas DFPS due to me being addicted to Prescription Pain Medication and there for I wasn't able to properly "care" for my children and I am the first to admit at that "time" I wasn't able to properly care for my 4 minor children. I was in denial about my addiction and didn't realize I had a problem until I was forced to face the reality that my Parental Rights where taken from me and that from what the judge told me I would never be able to see my children again. That was over 5 years ago and since then I have come to terms with the fact that it WAS my fault that I no longer have my children with me. It took me almost a year and a half after I lost my kids to realize I needed drug rehabilitation, which I have gone through and I am happy to say I have now been clean and off drugs for about 3 and a half years. I have been in contact with my kids because they have all looked me up on Facebook and or through family and friends that they where placed with and I also have one of my kids living with me for over a year and a half because he is now 19 years old and finally "aged" out of the system, and I know for a fact that all of them ages now (12, 16 & 17) want nothing more than to be able to come back home and live with me, but I don't know what I need to do to try to either get my Parental rights reinstated or if that's not a possibility if I could be granted PMC of my children since they have all told me that they would go in front of a judge and state this is what they want,( even though they don't have a lot of trust with the "system" because they said that they have told their caseworker many of times that this is what they wanted and have begged their caseworker and their court appointed lawyer to allow them to speak to the judge when they have gone to court and they have just been ignored)? And how would I go about requesting this?

[smoothy]

I would start by hiring a lawyer to represent you. They will know everything that needs done, and how to show the court the situation has changed and the steps you have taken. The fact you have been clean 3.5 years says a lot and is in your favor.

What the kids want or don't want however isn't a factor. Very few kids want separated from their parents. And that was done because you were deemed a danger to them and unfit at the time by the court.

So you have to prove that is no longer true. If regular substance abuse testing has been part of your program.. its a strong piece of evidence on your side otherwise its going to be far more difficult to prove.

Its not up to the caseworker...its up to the judge.