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Judge continues services, schedules next compliance hearing in Montez child‑welfare case
Summary
A compliance hearing in the Department of Family and Protective Services' case involving April Montez resulted in continuation of previously ordered services and a return date of June 3, 2025; DFPS reported mixed progress, new safety plans and concerns about unsupervised contact between mother and children.
A judge continued court‑ordered services and set the next compliance hearing for June 3, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in the case of the Department of Family and Protective Services v. April Montez, after DFPS reported partial progress and outstanding concerns about safety‑plan compliance and communication between parties.
DFPS caseworker Liliana Bridal (Araiza) told the court that April Montez had begun services, attended some classes and tests, and that screenings had been negative. Bridal reported that April had completed several parenting and counseling sessions and that “she's been very cooperative,” but that staff had ongoing concerns about behavioral issues and safety‑plan violations, including reports of contact between the mother and children outside the approved arrangements.
The department described steps toward expanding contact — the caseworker said staff were preparing a new safety plan that would allow unsupervised contact four hours per week if signed — but noted that Montez had refused to sign two other proposed safety plans pending consultation with counsel. DFPS also reported concerns that the father had allowed at least one child to exchange electronic messages with the mother in violation of prior restrictions.
A court‑appointed representative for the children, Stacy Zavala, said the children were doing well in school and that she had “no concerns at this point” after meeting with them. Counsel for the mother, Lorraine Lucero, said her client was present and had “no questions” at the hearing.
The judge continued the previously ordered services and scheduled the next compliance hearing for June 3, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. The court noted that if DFPS or the parties present an agreed order of dismissal before that date, the case could resolve earlier.
Why it matters: The continued oversight keeps DFPS in a supervising role and preserves the court’s ability to modify contact or placement if safety issues persist. The case highlights recurring themes in child‑welfare hearings: balancing reunification efforts with child safety and requiring adherence to safety plans.
What’s next: DFPS will continue to monitor compliance, pursue signed safety plans where appropriate, and will report progress at the June 3, 2025 compliance hearing.
