To parents out there when CPS is called regarding their child

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. 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 via /r/Parenting https://ift.tt/2HiojXc