Skip Navigation
Partner LinksPartners
Safety Exit (or press "Esc")
Services

Family Early Defense Network

The Family Early Defense Network (FEDN) provides free, confidential legal help to eligible low-income Texas parents and caregivers facing involvement with Child Protective Services (CPS) — beginning as early as the initial CPS investigation.

Getting legal help early can make a difference. FEDN connects families with attorneys who can help them understand their rights, navigate the CPS process, and address related legal issues affecting their family.

 

How We Can Help

FEDN attorneys can provide legal help with:

  • CPS investigations — Help understanding your rights and navigating an active CPS investigation.
  • Family-Based Safety Services (FBSS) — Legal advice and assistance when CPS is working with your family through FBSS.
  • Administrative Reviews of Investigative Findings (ARIFs) — Help challenging certain CPS investigative findings through the administrative review process.
  • Related legal problems — Assistance with legal issues connected to your CPS involvement, including housing, custody, and protective orders.

Who We Help

FEDN serves parents and caregivers who:

  • Have income at or below 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines; and
  • Have a current CPS issue that has NOT gone to court.

Why get help early?

You don’t have to wait until a CPS case reaches court to talk to a lawyer. Getting legal advice during an investigation or other early CPS involvement can help you understand your rights, make informed decisions, and address legal problems that may be affecting your family’s stability.

Has Your CPS Case Already Gone to Court?

You can still get legal information and help.

If CPS has already taken you to court, call the Texas Legal Services Center Family Helpline at 1-844-888-6565 to speak with a lawyer about your CPS case.

Learn More About FEDN

Free Legal Help for CPS Issues

View our Family Early Defense Network flyer to learn how to get free, confidential legal help when your family is facing CPS involvement.

About the Family Early Defense Network

FEDN is funded by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation and is a project of Texas RioGrande Legal Aid in collaboration with Texas Legal Services Center, Lone Star Legal Aid, and Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas. The Network provides early, comprehensive legal support to low-income Texas families facing DFPS intervention and works to protect the dignity of families whose poverty-related circumstances may be misrepresented as abuse or neglect.