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Judge praises mother’s progress; court continues case and expands weekend visits
Summary
In a compliance hearing conducted by the High Plains Child Protection Court, Judge continued the case of Jessica Rutledge, approved expanded supervised-to-unsupervised daytime weekend visits at the Downtown Women’s Center, and set the next status hearing for Aug. 26, while requiring ongoing services.
Jessica Rutledge has shown sustained progress in treatment and parenting services, the High Plains Child Protection Court heard during a compliance hearing conducted by Zoom. The court continued the department’s involvement, approved expanded daytime weekend visits at the placement site, and set a follow-up hearing for Aug. 26 at 9:00 a.m.
The court record shows Rutledge entered residential services at the Downtown Women’s Center in April and has tested negative for substances since admission. Department counsel reported she participates in a 16‑hour‑per‑week substance‑use program called RAD (Rethinking Alcohol and Drugs), is completing phase 1 and scheduled to move to phase 2, will begin EMDR therapy after a parenting class, and attends recovery meetings.
Katrina Sledge, speaking for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, summarized the mother’s progress: “She is doing amazing.” The judge told Rutledge she had “come a long way in a short amount of time” and urged continued compliance. Court papers and the hearing record show parent–child visits had been supervised at The Haven and at the Downtown Women’s Center; the department and placement staff recently modified the plan to allow an all‑day, unsupervised Saturday visit because Rutledge remained in phase 1 and visits remained on site at the Downtown Women’s Center.
The child’s attorney, Stacy Zavala, said she had no present concerns with increased visits so long as the parents coordinate around the child’s activities. Department counsel and the judge emphasized flexibility: visits may not occur every weekend and should be coordinated around siblings’ activities and the child’s schedule. The judge directed the department to maintain services and contact parties if further changes are needed.
No formal termination, dismissal, or other dispositive order was entered at the hearing. The court continued the case and scheduled the next compliance/status hearing for Aug. 26 at 9:00 a.m. The judge praised Rutledge’s work and urged her to “keep working at it.”
