Before a case is filed
When a caseworker calls or comes to the door.
An investigation can start with a report from a school, a doctor or a neighbor. It is not a court case, and nobody has decided anything yet. What you do in the first days still counts.
We help you decide what to say, what to show and what to sign. Many investigations close with no court case at all. When one doesn't, the record you built in the first week is the record the court sees.
What we do
Getting ready for a home visit or an interview
Reading a safety plan before you sign it
Collecting school, medical, childcare and work records
Speaking to the agency for you when that helps
Finding out whether a court filing is coming
The first week
Three things that help most.
Read what you were given
A letter, a form, a plan: we read it with you and mark every deadline and every request you are free to decline.
Plan the next visit
We go over what the caseworker is likely to ask, what a calm and honest answer sounds like, and what to have on the table.
Keep your own record
Dates, names, what was said and what was promised. A plain notebook is often the best exhibit a parent has.
About investigations
Does an investigation mean I will lose my child?
No. Most investigations are about whether a child is safe at home, and many end with no court case. We help you give the agency what it needs and keep a record of everything you do.
Can I say no to a home visit?
You can ask questions and ask to reschedule, but refusing outright can lead the agency to ask a court for permission. Call us before you decide.
Should I record the conversation?
Recording rules vary, and a recording can help or hurt. Ask us first, and in the meantime take notes right after every contact.