SAN ANTONIO -- Texas child welfare authorities have dropped custody cases for 34 children from a polygamist group in West Texas.

A spokeswoman for Child Protective Services says the state filed paperwork on Thursday indicating it no longer needed court oversight of the 10 families involved. The judge agreed.

Spokeswoman Marleigh Meisner says the action doesn't necessarily end the agency's involvement with the families, but it means CPS believes the children can be safe without court oversight.

Texas authorities were forced by the state Supreme Court to return 440 children swept into foster care from a polygamist group's ranch in April but have continued to investigate.

They are seeking to put eight children back in foster care; roughly 400 other cases remain under review.