Raising Awareness: Child Protective Services

I have seen numerous stories in the news lately about children routinely abused and even murdered by their "parents" or other caregivers, and in many of these cases CPS has been involved in these family's lives. Oftentimes the children have been removed on prior occasions, only to be returned to the abusive situation and later murdered. In many forums, people who are justifiably angry point a finger at CPS and the court system for allowing it to happen.

There is a reason for this, and in many cases the CPS worker's hands - and the judge's - are tied. They have no choice, based on laws at state and federal levels: Laws that push for family "reunification" and laws that push for termination of parental rights - all with the intent of getting children out of the foster care system as expeditiously as possible.

Do social workers create the laws they are bound to follow? NO.
Do judges create the laws they are bound to enforce? NO.
Who creates these laws? THE LEGISLATURE.
Who can change the law to protect children from being abused, neglected, sexually assaulted, tortured, maimed, and murdered? THE LEGISLATURE.

It is painfully obvious that "the system" does not work and screaming for change, but pointing fingers does nothing to help. Change must start at the top, with the men and women we elect to represent us. They have an amazing opportunity to save the life of a child, ordering closer monitoring of "at-risk" children, preventing return to abusive situations, ensuring conditions of return are met, and providing a punishment appropriate to the crime that will not leave the rest of us scratching our heads and wondering WHY? Contact your legislators, tell them this is unacceptable, demand to be heard and demand change.

Man pleads guilty to attempted rape of 1-day-old daughter

Two-year-old beat to death, prior removal from home

Woman kills 2 children, hides bodies under apartment, prior termination of rights to 2 children

This is a small sampling (what is caught and reported upon) of crimes against another human being - one who has lost their rights to LIFE, LIBERTY, AND PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

Think about this single statistic and its immense gravity (and it is already more than 5 years old): "Recent studies show that while the statistics on most other forms of violent crime are dramatically decreasing, reports of child abuse and neglect have risen since 1993. In fact, it is now believed that every day, three children are killed as a result of abuse or neglect in this country.- Prevent Child Abuse America, 2001." For more statistics, please see YELLO DYNO.

We cannot allow this to continue. Please do not disengage from what is happening all around us, but be proactive and let your legislators know that they need to take action.