Do you think our goverment should make changes to child protective services?

Question

I know alot of people abuse children and neglect them. but i also know of alot of people that have there kids removed just because someone was mad at them and called and made a report. i think our system throws these two serious words around and the kids end up in foster care for really no reason.

Answer 1

Around here, I see a lot more mistreated kids than kids being taken away for no reason.

And I work for the same agency CPS is involved with.

Answer 2

I agree with you on the side of people calling about people they don't like and causing trouble, it happened to someone I know.

Answer 3

The individual states and counties should monitor it's own agencies.  This is not a federal issue.

Answer 4

Of course there should be changes, but being a CPS is worker is a thankless job. Would you really want to be responsible for taking children from homes? Would you want to be the one investigating great parents who are going to be upset about the encroachment on them because someone falsely accused them of abusing their kids? People think that Foster Care is so great well it's not. The problem with childcare there are people who only want kids at certain ages and then just dump them off to another home and once they're 18 they are out on their own with nowhere to go.

There needs to be a complete overhaul of the system from it. Of course there can be bad apples in CPS land as well who don't take complaints seriously. Does Miranda Gaddis and Ashley Pond ring a bell for people? They complained about the man who killed both of them, but the people who took the report did nothing about it. I think everytime someone reports something they need to check in on it. Interview parents, family memebers, and neighbors. It's a time consuming process, but even after the interviews they should be able to check the home at anytime afterwards. Even if the parents was perfectly fine when investigated. Parents who are doing a good job raising their kids shouldn't have a problem with it the one's who aren't doing a good job would have a problem with it, but this won't happen either.

So, I don't know what we can do about CPS or how it can be changed. All I know is that we need to have people who make sure the investigations are being done so the parents who aren't doing a good job can either get help or the children taken away from them.  

I read about the case you were referring to about Ms. Gile. There's a cop in Silverton, OR who's in trouble for sexually abusing an underaged girl, but does that mean that the Police force needs to be overhauled? No! It means that there are a few bad apples everywhere no matter where you go there's going to be someone who does something wrong. It's the way life works and you hope they get the punishment they deserve and that these people are weeded out so that they can be run more smoothly.

Answer 5

"just because someone was mad at them and called and made a report"

If your not abusing your kids you should have nothing to worry about

Answer 6

I was in foster care for 5 years for no reason other than my mom not having alot of money, but we had everything we needed. But the system shouldn't be so quick to remove kids they should keep an eye on the family to make sure that the rumor is not true or vice versa.

Answer 7

Yes Yes Yes!!!

My state's Department of human services is HORRIBLE!!!

Answer 8

Children are not taken from parents/guardians based on one person's say-so. CPS (whatever they are called in various jurisdictions) has to conduct an investigation, see and speak with the children in the home and FIND evidence of neglect (more common) or abuse (not as common) and many times will try to assist the parent n accessing services.. that is, food banks, child-care, parenting classes etc. UNLESS the case-worker feels that there is imminent danger for the children to remain. Each county in the US is different of course, but usually the police have to be called in order for the children to be physically removed from parent's custody. The worker then must PROVE to a court (usually within 24 to 48 hours) that the removal was necessary to prevent imminent harm to children.

My own opinion is that most CPS cases are not vigorous enough - and that there are children living in neglectful or abusive situations - but people can appear relatively sane and caring for a short period of time... too many children die at the hands of care-givers with past investigations or CPS worker involvement (that is the family was known to CPS and the courts and the children were not removed as no proof of abuse or neglect was obtained.) one need only look at a few evening news reports to see what I mean... in cities and counties all over the US.

It may look like children are removed for no reason - since much abuse and neglect is under the radar of the causal acquaintance but there are instances where the  extended family is not even aware that children are being neglected or abused.

So,  in short, I would suggest changes to our country's CPS system to provide better training to case-workers, more support services for families at risk and better guidelines for removal of children at risk of abuse or neglect.