Juvenile Issues


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When you are divorced, one of the most difficult adjustments to have is the custody of your children. Custody is always up to the family court. As long as there is no violence, abuse, or any form of negligence was brought to the child, visitation rights will be awarded to the other parent who does not have the primary custody of the child. It is also beneficial to both of the parents if they share child support, not just financially but also emotionally. But, what if your child, who is under your primary custody, refuses to visit the other parent? […]

When Your Child Refuses to Visit the Other Parent   Recently updated !


Texas Primary Custody
The Texas Family Code is clear that children and youth must attend permanency review hearings, and places additional duties on attorneys ad litem, judges, and the child welfare agency to meet with children in advance of court hearings.  Despite many improvements over the past several years, Texas courts still do not consistently engage youth in meaningful participation in the court process. Ensuring that youth voice is heard and considered continues to be a challenge.  This lack of youth involvement results in foster youth feeling disconnected from the process, and judges not reaping the benefit of their input. Q:  What does […]

The Importance of Youth Voice in Court Proceedings



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I was reading an article today by Lana Shadwick. In it, she details a situation where a 13 year old boy is attempting to utilize social media to speak out about potential abuse that occurred at a foster home. His attempts to speak out are ultimately shut down by the judge in the case for unclear, but one might assume, confidentiality reasons. The full article can be read here, and it is fairly graphic in its detailing of some rather serious abuse allegations, so if that is something that would trigger you, please be aware before viewing it. My number one problem […]

Free Speech vs. Confidentiality: Is it time to extend free speech protections to children?


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There is always somewhat of a disconnect between lawmakers, prosecutors, judges, and modern society. Nowhere has that been more apparent to me than the recent case where a Texas child who is currently in jail faces an eight year prison sentence because of a threatening joke in an online game. Two things stand out here. First of which is the lesson for young people (or even old people!) that while you may feel like you are escaping reality while playing online, reality has a way of finding you. The online world is becoming increasingly LESS anonymous, and that trend is likely […]

A Child’s Right to Free Speech On the Internet



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Divorces are never easy for the people involved. It can cause a lot of strain within the family. It affects the relationship between spouses and even between the parent and the child. While some families can deal with the aftermath pretty well, there are those who struggle. That’s why reunification therapy exists. It helps those families who are having a hard time trying to work out their post-divorce relationships with one another. But what exactly is reunification therapy? Reunification Therapy Reunification therapy is a kind of therapy that focuses on the relationships that exist within a family. The goal is […]

Reunification Therapy for You and Your Family


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It is every child’s right to a childhood that will help them grow and flourish as a person. No matter where that child is in the world, it is a right due to that child. That is why as a parent, you have to make sure that you help give them that right in the best way you can. Single parent or not, it is your duty to your child to help make their childhood the best one they can possibly have. If you find yourself in a rut, struggling to come to terms with what you have to do […]

Your Child Deserves to be Happy