In the System

This does not mean well "They are not here, so who cares what I do?"  They do. The longer they wait, the more discouraged they will become. You will go to court and they will present you with some papers with half-truths and typos pointing out the worst spin on events that you may or may have not dealt with.  Its words.  They have 72 hours to come up with ammunition to keep your kids away until you get the things that they want done. Nothing in those documents are worth debating.They cant keep your kids on those words alone.  What happens from that hearing on is what they are going to use to determine your families future.

• Come to court sober. They have a cler that will give you a UA before or after your appearance. They will stand and watch you. If you are not, then do your best to control yourself in the courtroom. They are not going to terminate you because you are a mess, but this the base line they will determine how the rest of the case will proceed.
• Make friends with your case worker. They are the final say in everything  that happens. If you have issues-legal, drugs,mental-let them know. Their job is to help you. Some more than others, but keep track ON PAPER everything you talk to them about.
• Finally, when court is dismissed, your attorney will hand you some paperwork. These will be your court orders. The faster you start them, the sooner you will get more time with them.  This group is here to help you get them done and provide you with support through this time.

We have been through this. It sucks. They may not have had accurate reasons in why they were removed, but if it got to this point, then there was a breaking down of the normal life we had for so long.  It's not hopeless.  Some of these court orders may even help improve your situation. Im not minimizing the fact that our kids belong with us, but they deserve to know that we will do ANYTHING to have them home.