REPOST- To parents out there when CPS is called regarding their child

EDIT: I am a parent. I am relatively new to Reddit and didn't realize that there were "About" pages with subreddit rules so I did not make that clear the first time. I read this subreddit because I am a parent. I am also a CPS worker and I still think this post is important for parents, foster parents, guardians, and people who may become any of those so they can understand CPS and how they work. I have added some extra info at the bottom about the general CPS process because a commenter on the last post made a good point about the CPS process being unknown for a lot of people​​I am a CPS investigator. This is a throwaway because I don't want to read DMs about how much people hate my job. I keep seeing posts on this subreddit and others related to children or parenting where parents are enraged that CPS has been called about their child.First of all, there are state and federal laws in place that require pretty much any person who works with kids to call CPS when they have a reasonable concerns for their safety and well being. Malicious reports happen. We usually know when they do. If you are concerned that a report about your child is malicious, let the CPS worker know. But please be aware that CPS, by law, has to investigate ALL reports made regarding abuse or neglect of a child. We will document if things look malicious but that does not change that an investigation MUST be done, per federal laws. Some states work differently on how they determine what meets criteria for a report. Once a worker makes contact with you, the report is probably already opened. We must complete our jobs once this occurs. People call CPS, by and large, because they are truly concerned about your child and/or they are required to by law. While we understand that CPS contact is stressful, being an asshole or making things really difficult doesn't make anything any better.You have every right to contact an attorney or decline to participate in the investigation. Feel free. That will not change that CPS is required by law to determine your child's safety. We encourage people to cooperate because it makes things move a lot faster so we can get out of your life if there is nothing unsafe going on. If you refuse to let us see your child, expect law enforcement at your door. Again, we are required by law to conduct an investigation and physically observe that all children in your home are alive and well.Please remember that, while you may be doing a great job at parenting and there may be no safety concerns with your children specifically, there are children out in your community every day being beaten and sexually abused. There are infants being shaken and getting skull fractures. There are parents using drugs and unable to care for their kids. There are parents getting DUIs with their kids in the car. There are parents beating each other in front of their kids. There are kids who are literally locked in cages. There are kids who don't know where there next meal is coming from. [EDIT- these are examples. None of these are intended to sound better or worse than others. They are simply examples of unsafe situations I have personally seen that can require intervention by CPS beyond just responding to a report and calling it a day] We don't know who you are. We don't know that you are providing a safe environment for your kids until you show us. Please show us you are a safe parent so we don't have to spend weeks tracking down you and your children (because we are required by law to) when there are children being abused and neglected who need our help.​Also, CPS is usually required to make recommendations for services to you. Doing them doesn't mean you admit you are a bad parent.​Lastly, if you are hiding something (drug use, abuse of your kids, domestic violence, etc) we usually find out sooner or later. Lying or evading makes everything worse.​YMMV regarding what kind of investigator you get so I can only speak for myself and my immediate peers but in my state and agency, we don't want to remove your kids. I'ts a lot of work to remove your kid and we don't want to cause trauma. We just want to do our jobs.​I am happy to answer reasonable questions. Obviously I am not a lawyer and probably don't live where you do so I cannot and will not advise you on your CPS case.​Signed,Your friendly CPS worker who just wants to do their job​ADDITION:The general CPS process [in my state, but its usually pretty similar across the US]:Call is made to a child abuse hotline about concerns for a child/ren's welfare.Hotline workers determine if the information meets policy criteria for a report.If a report is generated, a case manager conducts an investigation to includeconducting an assessment with children named in the report and/or residing in the home that the report was made about. This typically occurs at school or daycare (if possible) and can legally occur before anyone makes contact with a parent. This can upset parents. Remember that children who are abused for neglected or are otherwise unsafe at home are unlikely to report what's really happening if their parent is in the next room or if their parent was aware of the report before hand and told them what to say. Attempts to see children also happen at home if the child cannot be seen at school or daycare for some reason. At the bare minimum, observing children to be alive and well is required by federal law and workers are mandated by law to do everything possible to visually observe children.Conducting assessments with parents about the concerns reported and general parenting situation.talking with people close to the family or others who may know about the situation in the home, like service providers (therapists, etc)Based in there information collected, we determine, based on policies and laws, whether or not a child is in immediate or impending danger in the home. If the child is in danger, parents can agree to a voluntary intervention where a safe person moves into the home to keep the kids safe. Or kids can go with a safe person they have a relationship with while the parents work on what is making their kids unsafe. If parents don't agree to this kind of plan or there are no appropriate safe people who can help, the child may be placed in foster care. These kinds of voluntary plans can be put in place for the short term only (depending on the situation and what programs each state has) and if a child remains unsafe in the home, court involvement may be necessary.The goal is always to leave children in the home, when safe, or to return them home as soon as possible.If there is no danger found, recommendations for services are made and the case is closed.​There is a lot more to it but that this the general jist.​SECOND ADDITION:I am sorry if you as a parent or mandatory reporter are unhappy with how CPS treated your case or one you have called in. I cannot speak to how other workers and agencies run. All I know is that myself and everyone I work with just want what is best for kids and families. We operate within policies. CPS can't just take kids for no reason and we have to have evidence of maltreatment to intervene. This does not mean that every time a child is abused we have enough evidence to remove them. We do the best we can with the information we can gather. We cannot force a child to disclose abuse or neglect. Please be aware a lot of states have an Ombudsman for child welfare who can be contacted if you believe a CPS case is not being handled appropriately or your rights as a parent were violated. They exist to help you so call them if you have issues.​THIRD ADDITION:This should go without saying but please don't threaten, attack, or try to kill a CPS worker if they approach you or your home regarding a report that was opened. They are humans and want to go home to their families at the end of the day. It was not their fault CPS was called and they are doing their jobs. If you do not want to cooperate, tell them. If you feel threatened by them, call 911. CPS workers are not armed. They will not attempt to break into your home or harm you. Please do not harm them. via /r/Parenting https://ift.tt/2H9i1tZ