Siblings’ placements, counseling and sibling visits discussed; court orders service plans and seeks closer placement for one child

At a status hearing on the Brown family, the High Plains Child Protection Court heard updates on five children placed in multiple homes, ordered service plans as court orders, and took steps to start sibling visits. The court also asked DFPS to look for a closer placement for one child after staff reported several physical altercations in his current setting.

DFPS staff said Adonis, Isabelle and Ariana are generally doing well in placement and attending therapy. William Ryan, however, had three recorded physical altercations in placement; two other youth involved in earlier incidents were subsequently discharged, and DFPS placed William on heightened monitoring with increased one‑to‑one staff oversight and a safety plan. Placement staff reported William has since settled and staff provided positive reports about his behavior.

Robert Ramos for DFPS detailed steps to reestablish sibling contact: monitors have been identified and DFPS planned to begin virtual sibling visits this week and to start face‑to‑face visits when logistics permit. Attorney ad litem Stacy Zavala said the older children were anxious to see the baby sibling and urged short virtual face time if full coordinated visits are not immediately feasible. DFPS and counsel discussed therapeutic needs: the two older girls have initiated counseling but the current provider has limited availability; DFPS is seeking alternate counselors and exploring a grief program (called Skycamp / Hope and Healing Place) that may be an option this summer or in a later semester program.

The court continued DFPS as temporary managing conservator, ordered service plans be filed as orders of the court, and scheduled an initial permanency hearing for Oct. 14, 2025; the judge also asked DFPS to search for a closer placement for William Ryan to facilitate family visits if his monitoring level improves.