December Advocacy Tip

Every month CASA publishes an "Advocacy Tip" to give Advocates the chance to earn 1 Hour of Ongoing Training Credit. Take the quiz at the bottom to earn your credit!

Termination of the Parent-Child Relationship


When approaching final merits on a case where the Permanency Goal is Termination of parental rights, there are 20 different grounds for termination that the court may utilize. The grounds for termination are listed in the Texas Family Code and range from the letter A to the letter T. The court may order termination of the parent-child relationship if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that one or more of the grounds applies to that particular case.


Most Common Grounds for Termination

Some of the most common grounds for termination used in Bexar County Children’s Court are:

K - This ground is executed before or after the suit is filed an unrevoked or irrevocable affidavit of relinquishment of parental rights

O - The parent(s) failed to comply with the provisions of a court order that specifically established the actions necessary for the parent to obtain the return of the child who has been in the permanent or temporary managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services for not less than nine months as a result of the child’s removal from the parent under Chapter 262 for the abuse or neglect of the child

Q - The parent(s) engaged in criminal conduct that has resulted in the parents: 1) confinement of an offense; and 2) confinement or imprisonment and inability to care for the child for not less than two years from the date of filing the petition.


Abuse and Neglect Grounds for Termination

There are three termination grounds in the Texas Family Code that focus solely on abuse and neglect. These grounds are often harder to obtain due to the requirement of presenting clear and convincing evidence to the court.

D - The parent(s) knowingly placed or knowingly allowed the child to remain in conditions or surroundings which endanger the physical and emotional well-being of the child

E - The parent(s) engaged in conduct or knowingly placed the child with persons who engaged in conduct which endangers the physical and emotional well-being of the child

N - The parent(s) constructively abandoned the child who has been in the permanent or temporary managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services for not less than six months, and; 1) the department has made reasonable efforts to return the child to the parent 2) the parent has not regularly visited or maintained significant contact with the child and 3) the parent has demonstrated an inability to provide the child with a safe environment.


The court can terminate the parent-child relationship on as many grounds as pertain to the case. The court is also required to consider the best interest of the children when making a ruling on termination grounds. The number of termination grounds, and the definition of each ground, play a part in the appeal process if a parent should decide to appeal the initial ruling. For more information on grounds for termination visit https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/FA/htm/FA.161.htm

Advocacy Tip Quiz

Story of Hope: Brennan Holland

By bfines • February 13, 2025
Brennan Holland was assigned to Sarah in December 2022. Sarah entered foster care with a history of abuse, neglect, and exploitation, yet she remains incredibly resilient. Throughout her time in care, she has experienced multiple placements. Brennan quickly learned that Sarah has a strong passion for neuroscience and dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon. Determined to pursue her goal, she graduated early from high school and is now enrolled in the College Bound Docket program, attending her school of choice—UTSA. However, the path to achieving her dream has not been without challenges.\ Sarah received a discharge notice from her current placement and was denied Supervised Independent Living (SIL) until she turned 18. It felt as though no one was giving her a real chance. CASA stepped in to advocate for Sarah’s independence, pushing for her to live in a dorm on her own. Not everyone on her team supported this idea due to concerns about her age, limited independent living experience, and fears that she might run away, be influenced by older peers, or engage in risky behavior. CASA, however, continued to stand by Sarah, even offering financial assistance to help her move into a dorm until she became eligible for SIL.  At Sarah’s next court hearing on January 24, 2025, her attorney ad litem filed a motion for her to live in a dorm at UTSA. CASA once again advocated for the court to approve this plan. The judge, quoting Brennan’s court report, stated, “Brennan said it correctly: You are going to succeed or fail based on your decisions.” Ultimately, the judge authorized Sarah to live in the dorms on campus and ordered CPS to cover the cost of SIL. CASA recently assisted Sarah in moving into her very first dorm room, and we are excited to see what the future holds for her. Since being placed on campus, she has built a strong network of supportive adults to help her thrive. The impact of CASA facilitating these vital connections is crucial in ensuring that young adults like Sarah have the support they need to successfully transition into adulthood.

February Advocate Spotlight

By bfines • February 13, 2025
Emily White
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