By Families vs. Houston County DHR
In Alabama, a parent can lose custody of their child without ever stepping foot in a courtroom.
No judge. No hearing. No lawyer. Just a knock at the door and a pen.
Across the state, families are being pressured, sometimes within minutes, to sign documents known as “safety plans.” Though framed as voluntary, these agreements often function as legal workarounds that allow the Department of Human Resources (DHR) to remove children from their homes without due process.
A signature with consequences
At first glance, a safety plan appears to be a cooperative agreement between parents and the state. In reality, it is a tool that bypasses the justice system. DHR can impose one of three versions: in-home supervision, placement with relatives or friends, or removal to foster care. And they can do so for up to 45 days without any court involvement.
Families are rarely informed of their rights. There is no guaranteed access to legal counsel. There is no meaningful opportunity to object. Once signed, the document becomes a binding agreement and a tool of control.
“They told me if I didn’t sign, they would take my kids anyway,” said one Alabama mother. “I had five minutes to decide.”
She is not alone. Similar accounts are surfacing across the state. Parents say they are coerced into signing under emotional duress, often with a DHR worker standing beside a uniformed officer. They are told it is the only way to avoid immediate removal. Few realize that by signing, they are surrendering rights they may never get back.
Due process denied
The Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to a fair hearing. But when it comes to child protection, that right is increasingly undermined.
Safety plans allow DHR to act on perceived risk, not proven harm. Families are not given a platform to challenge the allegations. There is no judicial review. And once a plan is in place, any alleged violation, no matter how minor, can lead to further state intervention.
One missed phone call. One disagreement over rules. One subjective claim of noncompliance. That is all it takes.
The quiet weapon of child welfare
These plans are often presented as reasonable precautions. In practice, they serve as silent removals. They place children outside the home without a formal court order, and they strip parents of their ability to defend themselves.
DHR does not need to prove abuse. It does not need to present evidence. It only needs to claim that harm might occur, and a family can be destabilized overnight.
What families should know
If DHR believes a child is in imminent danger, the law requires them to follow specific steps. Parents have the right to demand that DHR:
Obtain a court-issued pick-up order
Present sworn testimony or a signed affidavit
Provide access to legal representation before asking for a signature
Without these safeguards, no parent should sign a safety plan. Cooperation without counsel is not consent; it is coercion.
Many parents sign in hopes of keeping the peace. They believe that showing a willingness to work with DHR will result in leniency. But the opposite is often true. The signature becomes a tool of enforcement. The terms can be altered without warning. And any perceived failure to comply can justify long-term separation.
The state does not have to prove wrongdoing. It only has to claim you agreed.
Protect your rights before you cooperate
If a DHR worker shows up at your home, you are already in a legal situation. Do not treat it casually.
Ask clear questions. Insist on written communication. Do not sign anything without reviewing it in full and consulting with an attorney.
Ask this:
“Are you removing my child? If so, where is the court order?”
If there is none, then you have rights; and it is your responsibility to use them. Because in Alabama, the difference between family preservation and permanent separation may be one signature. And the ink dries fast.