Help her come home to something steady.

You can help without turning her return into a project. Ask what she needs first, keep expectations realistic, and focus on the basics that help someone feel safe enough to plan.

Family court and DHHR processes can be confusing and emotionally heavy. You can help by gathering information and making space for qualified advice, while remembering that an existing order controls until a court changes it.

• Locate existing custody, visitation, or protection orders.

  Keep copies in one safe place and note the dates, times, locations, and conditions they set. Do not assume an informal agreement replaces a written order.

• Document communications and visits.

  Save messages and make a simple dated note after calls, scheduled visits, cancellations, or changes. Keep the record factual and avoid posting case details publicly.

• Contact the assigned DHHR worker when applicable.

  Ask for the caseworker’s name, the current case plan, upcoming hearing dates, and what steps or documentation are needed. With permission, help her keep those details together.

• Seek qualified legal help.

  Custody, visitation, and termination-of-parental-rights questions are legal questions. Start with the Legal Aid WV family line or another qualified attorney.

• Listen before offering a solution.

  Ask, “Do you want me to listen, help make a plan, or help find a resource?” Her answer may change from day to day.

• Set clear, kind boundaries.

  It is okay to name what you can and cannot provide — including money, housing, childcare, rides, or late-night support. Clear limits protect the relationship.

• Choose consistency over intensity.

  A reliable weekly check-in or one ride to an appointment may matter more than a big promise. Follow through on what you say you will do.

• Let her own the next step.

  Offer reminders, transportation, and encouragement, but do not speak for her, make legal promises, or take control of decisions that belong to her.

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