It doesn’t feel like protection.
It feels like pressure.
A knock on the door. A worker standing in your living room.
And suddenly, you’re handed a document you didn’t ask for, told to sign without question, and warned if you don’t they might just take your child right now.
This is how it begins for too many parents in Alabama.
They call it a safety plan but what they don’t tell you is that it’s the first trap.
What Is a Safety Plan?
A DHR safety plan is a written agreement where a parent or caregiver agrees to specific conditions usually involving temporary changes in custody or supervision.
Examples:
- “Parent agrees to send child to maternal grandmother’s house for 30 days.”
- “Parent agrees to supervised visitation only.”
- “Parent agrees not to be alone with the child.”
You’re told this is temporary. That it will “protect your child” while DHR investigates.
But the truth is:
You’re signing away your rights without a hearing, without legal representation, and often without understanding the long-term consequences.
What They Don’t Tell You
DHR rarely tells families these key facts:
- You have the right to refuse to sign.
- You have the right to consult with an attorney before signing.
- Nothing signed under pressure is fair or truly voluntary.
- Signing a safety plan can and will be used against you in future court proceedings.
They say: “It’s just to help.”
But in court, they may argue that your agreement proves you were unsafe or unable to parent.
How Safety Plans Bypass the Courts
Safety plans allow DHR to act as judge, jury, and enforcer without oversight.
Here’s what typically doesn’t happen when a safety plan is used:
- No judge reviews it.
- No public defender is assigned.
- No evidence is presented.
- No opportunity exists to challenge the allegations.
According to Alabama DHR Policy Manual Section 5.2 (Safety Planning), workers are expected to “engage families in developing safety plans that are least intrusive and most likely to keep children safe.” But in practice, families report being coerced, cornered, and confused.
What Happens After You Sign?
The silence begins.
- You may be told your child can’t come home yet.
- Reunification timelines get moved.
- Your plan might suddenly include drug tests, classes, or supervised visits you didn’t agree to.
And if you “fail” the plan even once they may escalate to full removal.
All without a courtroom ever seeing your side.
The Real Target: Poor and Vulnerable Families
These tactics hit hardest where families are already stretched thin:
- Low-income parents who don’t have attorneys on speed dial
- Single mothers doing everything alone
- Black and brown families who are over-policed and disproportionately removed from
DHR uses fear, silence, and control.
And most parents don’t know they can say “No.”
What Are Your Rights?
You always have the right to:
- Take time to read and understand the safety plan
- Refuse to sign under pressure
- Ask for a lawyer or legal review
- Request a formal court hearing instead of informal agreements
- Record the conversation if your state law allows (in Alabama, one-party consent means you can record your own conversation legally)
If a worker becomes aggressive or threatens removal for not signing, demand their supervisor’s contact info and document everything.
How to Protect Yourself Right Now
Here’s what you can do immediately:
- Don’t sign anything in the moment. Ask for a copy to review.
- Start a paper trail. Keep records of every visit, phone call, and document.
- Get support. Contact legal aid or advocacy groups before signing anything.
- Share your story anonymously with trusted platforms like ours.
The Bottom Line
If DHR shows up with a safety plan, remember:
It may look like help but it could be the first step toward losing your child.
You are not alone.
You are not powerless.
And you are not unworthy of truth, rights, and due process.
Take Action
- Share this post with a parent who’s being pressured right now.
- Download our “Refuse a Safety Plan” Script
- Sign up for our email list to get new guides, legal templates, and updates
- Follow us on Facebook: Families vs. Houston County DHR
DHR isn’t broken.
It’s breaking families on purpose.
And we’re here to fight back.