"You cannot take children away because their parents think something or believe something. You can only take children away for what you can prove parents have done," she said Wednesday. "There is no proof on our family of anything that remotely could be called child abuse."

The reports praise the families on the YFZ Ranch for their strong work ethic, their resourcefulness and the communal support in raising children.

"The adults generally demonstrate basic parenting skills," it says. "The adults express a desire to be good parents. They have strong religious beliefs."

Under "Family and CPS concerns related to risk and safety," the plan outlines sexual abuse, physical abuse, mental abuse and neglect. Meisner said they included the definitions in Texas law.

"That's so the families have a clear understanding of the definition of child abuse and neglect," she said. "We also want them to have a clear understanding of why their children are in care."

Goals

The service plan goals say the parents will understand what abuse is and take steps to protect their children. They also ask parents to cooperate with DNA testing and providing identifying papers to establish paternity and family relationships.

"We want them to be better equipped to work with their individual caseworkers to work toward the eventual goal of family reunification," said Meisner.

For parents, tasks include participating in parenting classes, psychiatric evaluations and following the recommendations of counselors.

"Establish safe living arrangements for children and provide verification to the department of living arrangements, including methods of support the family is receiving from all sources," one recommendation says.

The recommendations obtained by the Deseret News make no mention of any requirements for the parents to leave the FLDS faith, or explicitly say to move off of the YFZ Ranch. But an attorney representing the FLDS Church said they are underlying themes.

"A safe living environment sounds just fine, but what they mean is get off the ranch," said Rod Parker. "It asks the parents to admit many of the false premises this raid was based on."

The goal of the child welfare system is eventual reunification between parents and children. Over the next year, the judges in San Angelo will have to decide how and when that happens. An introduction letter to one FLDS mother that was included with the plan urged cooperation with CPS.

"If the judge is not satisfied that you can provide a safe place for your child where they are free from abuse, the judge may decide to limit or even permanently take away all of your rights as a parent of a child," it said. "The child then could be placed in permanent foster care or be adopted."

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