The Supreme Court of Texas established the Children's Commission in 2007 with the overall goal of improving the child welfare system by increasing public awareness of challenges facing children and families involved in the child welfare system and bringing attention to this important issue through judicial leadership, reforming judicial practice, and informing policy affecting child welfare.
2024 Texas Child Welfare Bench Book
The Children's Commission's 2024 Texas Child Welfare Law Bench Book and Bench Cards is now available!
Bench Book
2024 Tool Kit for Attorneys Representing DFPS in Child Welfare Cases Now Available!
2024 Tool Kit for Attorneys Representing Parents and Children
New Video Series for Child Welfare Attorney Outreach
To raise awareness of child welfare law as a career path, the Texas Indigent Defense Commission in collaboration with the Children’s Commission and the Office of Court Administration, created a video series to highlight the legal area of child welfare law.
Video Series: Understanding the Roles in a CPS Case Videos & Handouts
Texas CASA partnered with the Children’s Commission to develop new resources to explain the role of the professionals involved in a child welfare case. Five handouts and accompanying videos are available in both English and Spanish about the role of:
- The Judge
- The Guardian ad Litem or CASA Volunteer
- The Attorney ad Litem
- The Parent’s Attorney
- The Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) Attorney
Handouts and videos are available on the TexasCASA website.
More
Understanding the Roles of the People Involved in a CPS Case
Comprender los Roles de las Personas Involucradas en Caso de CPS
Legal Representation Resources