Parents have a fundamental right to care custody and control of their children. However, that right is not absolute. When CPS receives a referral about your family, they will start an investigation. Depending on the circumstances, CPS can close the case immediately, ask you to sign a voluntary plan (steps for you to take to keep your kids, or to get them back), or open a court case. If they open a case (a “dependency action”), the juvenile court will decide if and when yo