Many of you already know what my opinion is of CPS and the various state-by-state agencies. Here in Oregon, it's known as the Department of Human Resources, and I will be referring to it as such. Just know that this includes DHS, CSD, CPS, and many many more.
Also know that I do not think that every single DHS worker is a bad one. Many of them actually do a good job and protect our children. However, in recent years there have been an increasing number of cases that have been mishandled almost to the point of criminal misconduct.
I have come to the opinion from my own experiences, those of friends, and of research of done on the subject that while there are those few employee's that do a good job, DHS itself has become almost as much of a danger to our children as the things they are supposed to be protecting our children from.
There are a couple things that need to be understood about DHS policy and guidelines, the first of which being that they have the power, without proof of any wrongdoing, to take you children from your home. The need the absolute bare minimum of evidence, or in legal terms "Preponderance of Evidence."
So lets look at that, Preponderance of Evidence... What does that mean.
In layman's terms... they just have to guess. Preponderance of Evidence means that the caseworker only needs 51% evidence against you. Now, 51% may seem like they need a lot of evidence, but alas it is not. It can be as simple as:
Caseworker: Have you every touched your child's private area?
Parent: No, of course not.
Caseworker: So you deny ever having done so?
Parent: Yes.
Caseworker: Even to change them and clean them?
Parent: Well, yes I've changed them.
Caseworker: So now you admit to having touched your child's private area?
Parent: Never inappropriately.
Caseworker's Report: Initially, the parent claimed to have never touched the child, yet in further questioning admitted to doing so making their initial statement false. It is the opinion of this caseworker that the child should be removed from the home pending further investigation.
This may seem outlandish, but it's not. There are many cases where this exact scenario plays out. The caseworker now has that 51% because of how they twisted your words.
The other side to this coin is that, while they only needed a preponderance of evidence to take your child(ren) and bring up charges, you must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you are innocent. This is a stark contrast to how most cases are handled, where normally you need "Beyond Reasonable Doubt" to prove someone's guilt. Meaning you are now Guilty until proven Innocent.
"The Adoption and the Safe Families Act"
This act, signed by former President Bill Clinton, grants a federal bonus for each child currently in custody of the state agency, placed in a foster home, then finally adopted out. This was meant to help the nearly bankrupt agency and give them the funds they need to help the kids who truly need it. However, it has since become a tool for DHS and other agencies to line their pockets with upwards of $4000 per adoption, and an extra $2000 if the child is "Special Needs."
So now, the focus is on taking as many kids as possible and adopting them out. This in of itself should rile even the calmest person, but it gets worse. A large number of these children DIE while in custody of the system that is supposed to PROTECT them.
In 2005, Jacksonville Florida, a 23 month old boy dies while in Foster Care after being taken from his home. The child fell from a bunk bed, busted his nose and upper lip, and the foster mother failed to seek medical attention when she should have known full well a fall from any height at that age could cause a serious concussion. And thats just one case, there are countless others.
So I ask you, while DHS, CSD, CPS, DCF, and all of these agencies are protecting our children from loving parents, who's protecting our children from them?
