How to Get Your Child Back from CPS: My Story of Reunification, Healing, and Advocacy

If you’ve typed those desperate words, how to get your child back from CPS, into a search bar, know this: you are not alone, and you are not beyond hope.

I remember the moment my heart broke and my world shifted. I was in the hospital, just hours after giving birth, when I was told that my baby would not be going home with me. After everything I had already lived through, abuse, the loss of my first son, time in jail, I was being judged for a past that had already tried to destroy me. No one asked what I had survived. No one saw the mother I had become.

But I kept going. I showed up. I followed every step, even while healing from deep pain the system never saw. It wasn’t fast. It wasn’t easy. But my son is home now. And I’m still standing. Still fighting. Not just for him, but for every parent who has been told they are too broken to get their child back.

This is the story of how I reclaimed my son and my voice. And it’s a promise to others walking the same hard road: you are not broken. You are worthy. And you are not alone.

The Beginning: When CPS Took My Son, Again

I thought things would be different this time. I had worked hard. I was healing. There were no open cases. No court dates. Just me and my baby, ready to start again.

Then, less than 12 hours after giving birth, CPS showed up in my hospital room. There was no time to rest or bond. The worker said she was filing a petition. She didn’t know what would happen next. I sat there, still bleeding, trying to understand how this could be happening again.

My newborn was taken. He was placed with my mother, and for that, I was thankful. But it still hurt. It was still a removal. It brought back every bit of pain I had felt when my first son was taken.

They said I had been offered help before. But none of those things were offered during this case. The system made decisions based on old records. CPA didn’t check the facts. They didn’t even ask me.

The message was clear: the past still defined me.

But I was not the same woman. I had changed. And I was ready to fight for my child.

The Fight for Reunification

When people ask how to get your child back from CPS, they want clear steps. But the truth is, it’s messy and slow. You don’t just fight a case, you fight a system that already sees you a certain way.

I did everything they asked and more. Parenting classes. Mental health support. Supervised visits. I kept records. I stayed in touch. I showed up every time, even when I felt invisible.

Then COVID hit. Our court date was days away when everything stopped. No answers. No timeline. Just waiting.

I missed my son’s firsts, again. First words. First steps. I cried at night, wondering why it wasn’t enough.

But I didn’t give up. I kept going. And over time, people started to see me. My new caseworker. The GAL. My lawyer. They saw the mother I was becoming.

Reunification isn’t about being perfect. It’s about staying strong when you feel broken. It’s about holding on long enough for people to see your heart.

Eventually, my son came home. And when I held him again, I knew I was more than a mother. I was a survivor. I was an advocate.

What Helped Me the Most

There is no simple way to get your child back from CPS. But these are the things that helped me most:

• Showing Up Every Time
  I never missed a visit, call, or meeting. My child needed to see that I was still here.
• Keeping Records
  I wrote down every visit and service. It helped me stay organized and show my effort.
• Finding Supportive People
  Not everyone in the system is against you. I found helpers who truly believed in me.
• Doing the Inner Work
  I didn’t just check boxes. I went to therapy, reflected, and worked on myself.
• Staying Calm in Chaos
  Even when I wanted to scream, I found ways to stay grounded. Breathing. Stepping away. Refocusing.
• Asking for Help
  I learned that asking for help is a strength. Whether it was a counselor, mentor, or someone else, I reached out.

These steps didn’t fix the system. But they helped me stay steady until I could change my outcome.

From Survival to Advocacy

When my son came home, I thought it was over. But survival was just the beginning.

I had gotten my child back. I had found my voice. And now I had to use it.

Too many parents are judged by their past. Too many carry shame that was never theirs. I couldn’t stay quiet. I needed to speak for those who felt silenced.

That’s why I created Reclaimed Justice.

This space is for every person impacted by CPS, abuse, or prison. A space where your story matters. A space where healing and justice meet.

I went from being silenced in court to standing strong in my truth. I don’t have all the answers. But I have my voice. And I use it for every parent still waiting to be seen.

You Are Not Alone

If you’re in the fight right now, trying to figure out how to get your child back from CPS, I want you to know: your love matters. Your story matters. And you are not alone.

Healing is possible. Reunification is possible. Even after everything.

That’s why I created the Healing Foundations Starter Guide. It’s a free tool to help you start your journey back to yourself. It includes journal prompts, affirmations, and more from someone who’s been there. And if you want to connect, you can contact me and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

You are not just surviving. You are rising. And that is powerful.

Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (07/30/2025) Image by Abbat from Pixabay