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

A Message from Child Advocates San Antonio on National CASA/GAL Funding Termination

By bfines • April 25, 2025
A Message from Child Advocates San Antonio on National CASA/GAL Funding Termination On April 24, 2025, the National CASA/GAL Association announced that its federal funding through the U.S. Department of Justice has been terminated. As a result, National CASA is suspending subaward disbursements, training programs, and technical assistance. The organization is actively appealing the decision and assessing what services it can continue to provide during this transition. Info from National CASA can be found here. We understand that this announcement may raise concerns in the community, and we want to provide reassurance and clarity regarding how this news affects Child Advocates San Antonio. First and foremost: There is no impact to our organization or our services. We are fully operational and remain committed to serving the children and families in our community with the same excellence, integrity, compassion, and commitment we have always shown. Here are key facts we want our supporters and the public to know: Our funding remains secure. Child Advocates San Antonio has a diverse and stable funding base that includes a healthy mix of public and private funding. No one funding stream exceeds 50% of our budget. You can access our recent financials HERE. Our stability comes from strong state support and our dedicated Bexar County community, which keeps Child Advocates San Antonio resilient and focused on serving children. We do not receive subawards from National CASA. The suspension of subaward disbursements has no bearing on our funding or ability to operate. Our training programs continue without interruption. Our comprehensive and high-quality Advocate training programs are fully intact. We do not require technical assistance from National CASA. Our team is experienced, well-resourced, and prepared to continue all programming. No cuts, no hiring freezes, no changes to our operations. We remain fully staffed and actively engaged in our mission to advocate for children in foster care. Our commitment to advocating for children in foster care is unwavering, and our services continue as usual. We want to be clear: Child Advocates San Antonio is strong, stable, and here to stay. CASA programs in Texas are strong, independent, and fully committed to children in foster care. While we’re aware of the situation with National CASA/GAL, it doesn’t impact the critical advocacy happening here. Our commitment is clear: we will stand with the children we serve—until they are safe, their voices are heard, and their futures are secure. Our focus, as always, is on advocating for the best interests of children and ensuring they have a voice in court. Public support at all levels, including individuals, ensures we remain strong, regardless of national developments. No matter what, our mission stays the same – every child deserves to be safe, cared for, and have their voice heard. CASA’s mission is as important as ever— children in foster care need advocates who will stand by them. Start your Advocate Journey today!

April Advocate Spotlight

By bfines • April 11, 2025
Brittany Coppage
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