What is the OPR?Office of Parental Representation
Office of Parental Representation
What is the OPR?
The Travis County Office of Parental Representation is a Public Defender’s Office created with the sole purpose of representing indigent parents in Travis County who have had their children removed by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, or who are at risk of having their children removed by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services due to allegations of abuse and/or neglect.
Eligibility Criteria…
To be eligible for services through the OPR the client
- must be indigent, (based on federal poverty guidelines);
- must have a pending lawsuit filed against them by CPS or have an open CPS case;
- must not have a pending criminal case due to the abuse and/or neglect allegations;
- must not agree with CPS being given temporary custody of their child.
Why...
The Travis County Office of Parental Representation believes that:
- all children should grow up in a home that is safe, permanent and equipped to ensure their well being;
- parents are uniquely qualified to provide a safe and permanent environment for their children;
- preservation and the strengthening of the family unit is vital to the survival of our community;
- through the combined efforts of legal advocacy, education, resource identification, family engagement and case management, parents can rise to the challenge of providing safe, and permanent environments for their children.
Know your rights…
Parents whose children are in foster care retain many rights including the right to
- visit with their child if deemed appropriate;
- be informed about their child’s placement, health, development, behavior and educational progress; and
- make complaints about services and treatment.
Last Modified:
Tuesday, June 1, 2010 11:10 AM
