Hello. Im 35 years old, a FTM. Had my baby born in the way beginning of April 2015. I am drug addicted to heroin. My baby and mine toxicology tests came back positive and CPS was involved right away. My motherly instincts didn't kick in til 6 hours after giving birth to her and I have been sober all the way til May 2015. CPS did nothing but lie. They told me things then turned around and told my mother the opposite and still told the father of my baby another story. They told me what i could and couldn't do and then I would get phone calls stating I wasn't allowed to do the things I was told I could and was allowed to do the things I couldn't. They were no help what so ever, I had to learn everything on my own. So I want to share with you what I learned on my own. First let me say, the two most important things you can do to get ur kids back is always keep ur visits w/ur kids cause if you don't or your late then the judge will take it as your kids don't mean a lot to u if your not worried enough about seeing them. So always keep your visits, always be 5-10 mins early and always have them back on time don't be late and if u have to cancel then be at least 24 hours ahead. The 2cd thing to do to help u get ur kids back is always do what the judge tells you to do and finish it by when the judge tell u to finish it by. Cause the same thing, if you don't do or finish by when you are told to then the judge takes it as your not worried or serious about this and getting your kids back. And hiring a lawyer or attorney is necessary when you've been threatened like me. A attorney will get visitations and etc court ordered meaning what the judge says, stands that way and CPS cannot change that like they had done to me. But it's more of what you can do for yourself and show the judge your improvement that gets your kids back to u. And if you hire an attorney make sure they specialize in Family Law. Helplines available to talk to for support are National Parents Helpline and Birth Parents Association & Parents Anonymous. And if u complain on a SW you have 180days after the complaint to do so. Also, look up ur county and state and go online under Supreme Courts in your state & county. There is a lot of good advice and direction as to resources there. I never knew what the words "case plan" and "reunification" meant. I learned on my own mostly from the Supreme Court website. They have a full on glossary of words used in that manner that u will hear a lot of in the whole process with court and the Department of Children&Family Services. Good luck and if you need to then u can add me as a friend and I can help u all I can. I had no help what so ever. So the beginning was frustrating for me and as it will be for you. But trust me there are ways and direction you will find that can help you. Just dont forget ur kids need you more then u need them . So don't give up, keep fighting and don't argue or fight with the SW cause they will make records and are good at twisting shit around. So don't fight with them. Believe me i know u want to but trust me, don't do it. They will also say mean things to u and threatened you cause they want you to fail and give a dirty test or whatever just to get you to fail. And if you have to drug test for the judge the SW may say it's okay to relapse and they will give you another chance. That's BS, this is your only and final chance. You don't get any special help. So don't let them syke you out. They want u to fail cause then they get a bigger check for that kid in foster care. And don't let it get that far what ever u do cause most foster families try to get the kid adopted and they don't like to let the bio parent get visitations of they're own kids. So please beware , don't let them win and take this very seriously . I had no knowledge of how sever this situation is until it happened and I was left on my own to deal with. Also keep a journal, every conversation with everybody regarding this matter should be documented by you cause it's your only proof , it's your word against they're and if u don't have anything documented then your story isn't backend up. So please watch ur back, wash your hands and keep your head and chin up. Don't let them win. Your babies are counting on u to get them back, SO DO IT .