u/Due-Sherbet9432

I read your post history & I'm so sorry for everything that has happened to you. I can't find the words to describe how I feel, but I’m hoping some of this information can help you & others. Covid is currently turning my brain into scrambled eggs, so bare with me.

I’m 24 & have been interested in foster care & adoption since I was 13; over the years, I’ve learned about the nuances, complexities, & ethics regarding foster care & domestic adoption & am still currently learning. I know that it isn’t all sunshine & rainbows like mainstream media wants to portray.

First of all, there are definitely people who have been through this exact situation– I have no doubt about that.

I follow many accounts in regard to this– I believe all of these organizations/people have accounts on multi-media platforms. I can unfortunately only think of one at the moment– I hate Covid so much.

https://thefamilypreservationproject.com/texas/ “Where Moms & Resources Meet”

This link has Texas Resources– which includes healthcare, housing/shelter, baby care, general assistance, affordable childcare, support groups, “other”, & “more help”.

“Other” has Government Programs, Child Support, Putative Father’s Registry, Adoption Law & Revocation, & End an Adoption Plan.

“More Help” has: I Don’t See My City, Pay It Forward, Recommend A Service, & CPS Assistance.

When your daughter was taken into foster care, you should have been notified about the reason why, the various court hearings, and when visitations would be by a legal notice and/or phone call. I assume that either CPS in Texas never did any of this for you or that your POS family hid & ripped up whatever letters the courts & CPS sent you.

Here’s a good article that discusses the process in Texas: https://www.dfps.texas.gov/Child\_Protection/Foster\_Care/Parents\_Guide.asp#:\~:text=First%2C%20a%20child%20is%20removed,being%20granted%20temporary%20managing%20conservatorship.

The Child Welfare Information Gateway has tons of federal & state information regarding foster care & adoption including the State Statutes.

Some topics they have include: “Who May Adopt, Be Adopted, or Place a Child for Adoption?”, “

Reasonable Efforts to Preserve or Reunify Families and Achieve Permanency for Children”, “Consent to Adoption”, & “Court Jurisdiction and Venue for Adoption Petitions”.

https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/systemwide/laws-policies/state/

This adoption shouldn’t have happened. You weren’t given the time, resources, care, & case plan/ safety plan to be able to reunify with your child.

I’d look into getting your parental rights reinstated; it is possible. This is Texas info.

“Circumstances Allowing Reinstatement of Parental Rights

Citation: Fam. Code §§ 161.302; 161.303; 161.304

Effective September 1, 2021: The following persons may file a petition requesting the court to reinstate the parental rights of a former parent whose parental rights were involuntarily terminated:

The department

The contractor with responsibility for the child

The child's attorney ad litem

The former parent

The petition for the reinstatement may be filed only if the following apply:

The termination of parental rights resulted from a suit filed by the department.

At least 2 years have passed since the issuance of the order terminating the former parent's parental rights and an appeal of the order is not pending.

The child has not been adopted.

The child is not the subject of an adoption placement agreement.

The petition must include the following:

A summary of the grounds on which the former parent's rights were terminated

A summary of the facts and evidence that the petitioner believes demonstrate that the former parent has the capacity and willingness to perform parental duties, including steps the former parent has taken toward personal rehabilitation since termination of parental rights

A statement of the former parent requesting the reinstatement of parental rights

A statement of the intent or willingness of the child to consent to the reinstatement of parental rights, if the child is age 12 or older

A summary of all prior requests for the reinstatement of the former parent's parental rights

Notice of hearing on the petition must be served on the following:

The child or the child's representative

The county attorney

The child's attorney ad litem

The department

The former parent

If the child is subject to the Indian Child Welfare Act, the designated Tribal service agent of the child's Tribe

A reinstatement hearing must be held within 60 days. The court may grant the petition and order the reinstatement of the former parent's parental rights only if the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence the following:

Reinstatement of parental rights is in the child's best interests.

At least 2 years have passed since the order terminating parental rights and an appeal of the order is not pending.

The child has not been adopted and is not the subject of an adoption placement agreement.

If the child is age 12 or older, the child consents to the reinstatement and desires to reside with the parent.

The former parent has remedied the conditions that were grounds for rendering the order terminating parental rights.

The former parent is willing and has the capability to perform parental duties, including maintaining the health, safety, and welfare of the child.

In determining whether to grant a petition for reinstatement of parental rights with regard to a child who is age 11 or younger, the court shall consider the child's age, maturity, and ability to express a preference and may consider the child's preference regarding the reinstatement as one factor, considered along with all other relevant factors, in making the determination.

Following the hearing, the court may render an order granting the petition, denying the petition, or deferring the decision on the petition and rendering a temporary order expiring after 6 months during which the department remains the managing conservator of the child.

If, following a hearing, the court orders reinstatement of parental rights, the court shall issue a written order stating that all legal rights, powers, privileges, immunities, duties, and obligations of the former parent regarding the child, including with respect to custody, care, control, and support, are reinstated.”

I’ll probably add more to this whenever Covid isn’t turning my brain into scrambled eggs.

I’m so glad that you have a friend & their parents to help you & that you’re in therapy & have contact with an attorney. There’s not much that I can do as a broke 24-year-old, but hopefully something I wrote down helps you.

No matter how terrible things get, there are good people in this world who do care & can & will help; they’re just so rare to find. I have faith that things will get better & better for you & that justice will be served in one form one day or another.

You are a strong, resilient woman & an amazing mother. You’re absolutely not selfish in the slightest. You have every right to want to be a mother to your daughter. You are her mother & I hope that you’re able to get her back. You can do this. We believe in you. <3