Child Welfare cases and the involvement of a child welfare organization with your family can be challenging and stressful to manage and understand. Mahesh can provide consultation and information about the purpose of involvement, your options and choices, how best to engage with social workers, what you should expect and how to work with child welfare on a long-term basis and how to create safety within your family to have your case closed.

Child Welfare processes include the creation of numerous documents including case notes, assessments, clinical summaries and court documents and affidavits. Mahesh can provide a review of all documents that clients have received to ensure service is being provided and documented fairly and appropriately for persons involved.

When there are child protection issues at hand, child protection agencies get involved and can commence legal proceedings. This happens where there are concerns for a child’s safety that cannot be resolved through cooperation and agreement on case direction. It can be extremely stressful, and times feel defeating to be involved in legal proceedings with the potential to lose control of parenting to the child welfare system. There needs to be a delicate balance between advocating passionately and understanding the role, purpose and authority CAS has and their influence with the Court System.
This process can become overwhelming and complicated. It is important to involve an ally that has experience in dealing with child welfare as a system. A strong advocate on your side can help ensure that your children remain safe in your care or are returned to you without supervision, as quickly as possible. Being a strong advocate includes helping to mediate, understanding the importance of cooperation and the limits to such cooperation, along with providing dignified solutions for the parent.

Having your child removed from your care and placed in the care of a child welfare organization is unimaginable and can create extreme emotions ranging from anger to defeat and depression.
It is the responsibility of all child welfare organizations to ensure that all other safety options have been considered and exhausted before a child is removed. This includes creating comprehensive safety plans with the family and considering family and community care options before a child is removed. Again, having a strong advocate to ensure all decisions are made in the best interest of your children is critical in ensuring your children are safe, well cared for and returned home in a timely manner.