In Children's Court on Friday, Gabriel Orellana and Renee Garcia each entered a denial of allegations, which included substance abuse, prostitution, and the condition of their home.
"The bottom line is these children were living in the conditions they were," said Judge Rosa Figerola.
Their four children were removed by the Department of Children and Families three weeks ago from their apartment on Flagler Street. There were was no food in the broken fridge. Drug paraphernalia was visible on the table and floor.
Garcia was arrested for prostitution after bringing an undercover officer to the apartment. She and Orellana also face criminal charges of child abuse and drug paraphernalia. Garcia passed the drug test. Orellana has not been screened.
The children are living with his mother and brother in Broward.
"They seem really positive. I was really impressed with how well the kids seem," said Howard Band, the guardian ad litem for the children.
While Figerola had previously ruled the children were to have no contact with their parents, on Friday she ordered weekly therapeutic visits. Visitations will begin within the next 14 days and the trial date was set for Sept. 28.
"A therapeutic visit is a visit between the children and the parents that is supervised by a therapist to make sure that the contact and the interactions that they have are appropriate," said Lissette Valdes-Valle, DCF spokeswoman.
Figarola also ruled not other contact was allowed, not even by phone.
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"If you do then you two can congratulate yourselves that you will be responsible for placing these children in foster care do you understand?" she said.
"I'm happy. Yes, that I got the supervised visits and I'm doing well and I'm going to do everything I can to get my kids back. I love my kids," said Garcia.
Orellana said he was sad.
