This is a different type of post than you usually see from me, yet in alignment with Pluto’s shift into Aquarius soon. That shift is sure to shake up and crumble systems and parts of government entities that aren’t working anymore, or maybe never worked to begin with. This particular system that claims to “protect children” is only noticed by individuals who must deal with them, or by those who have positions that mandate one reports their suspicions of abuse to them. Can you see where that could cause a problem? A perception or judgement with no proof is enough to cause a family to go through hell. A case worker that is burned out could overlook issues and leave a child in danger. (Such a situation has sparked a fire in me and the entire reason for this post. I may make no difference at all, but more people will be informed and maybe that is what was meant to come from my frustration. Information is power!) This is a system with its own rules, own courts, and own timeline. News reports of fails sprinkle into the public but they are swept off pretty quickly, helping the general public to be blind to what is happening, or not happening.

I am one who was mandated to make calls which I did on many occasions when I had students who had marks, spoke of hiding food so mom couldn’t sell it, or some who flatout came to me with stories and the marks to prove it. Only ONE was followed up on. Recently, a child from the past showed up missing just to be returned or found living with a drug addicted parent who has had multiple reports called in, and never once been visited. This was the last straw for me and I went into research mode. What is going on here? What are the STATS? Why is nobody talking about this and the ones who are, well their hands are tied to change anything. (I have cried tears) In this blog post I am covering some insane numbers and some sad truths. If you have been traumatized by this system or have tried to get a child help, just to be ignored, this may be hard to read. Let’s dive shall we…

The Urgent Need for Dismantling DFS/CPS in the United States

The Department of Family Services (DFS) and Child Protective Services (CPS) in the United States is entrusted with a crucial responsibility: protecting vulnerable children and families. However, statistics reveal alarming levels of incompetence within the agency, necessitating a serious reconsideration of its role and effectiveness. Below my intention is to shed light on the reasons why the DFS/CPS system needs dismantling to address its inadequacies and explore potential solutions.

Ineffectiveness in Child Protection:

Statistics indicate that the DFS has consistently struggled to provide adequate protection to children at risk of abuse and neglect. In 2021, reports of child maltreatment cases reached a staggering 4.4 million, and despite this alarming number, only a fraction of these cases received proper investigation and intervention. This failure not only exposes children to continued harm but also erodes public trust in the agency’s ability to fulfill its core mandate. Recently a story of the Turpin children came out detailing the abuse they received in foster care despite them reporting their situation to authorities. Can you imagine escaping torture by your very own parents by climbing out a window to save you and your siblings, just to be placed in a similar situation by those entrusted to keep you safe. Click here for the ABC story that didn’t last long in headlines.

Overwhelming Caseloads:

One of the major issues contributing to the DFS’s incompetence is the burden of overwhelming caseloads on child welfare workers. According to a recent study, the average caseworker handles around 20 to 30 cases simultaneously. This heavy workload leaves little time for in-depth assessments and meaningful support, leading to critical cases slipping through the cracks and exacerbating the already dire situation as what happened with the Turpin kids. Hundreds of thousands of children are “missing” that DFS/CPS have been entrusted to keep safe. A report in Missouri alone found a disturbing amount and goes on to compare to the nation average. There should be no “national average”. Click here for that report.

High Reoffending Rates:

Another concerning statistic highlights the DFS’s inability to break the cycle of abuse within families. Reoffending rates among families involved with child protective services are alarmingly high, with some studies showing rates as high as 50%. This trend suggests that the current approach fails to address the root causes of family dysfunction and perpetuates a cycle of harm. This is a system that is overflowing and under staffed. Depending on the case worker, their caseload, and if they are just there for a paycheck, families can easily “play the role” expected and have their kids back in the exact situation they were in within a few months. How long would you assume it takes to be sober from drugs and healthy enough to care for kids? How easy is it to move abusive step dad or step mom out and then let them return when the dust settles and your not being watched. These are just 2 examples I saw personally multiple times. They have no REAL help in place to help these families. They have short programs that can be completed by any smart middle schooler. Even IF the caseworker is all in to help a family, DFS often falls short in providing sufficient support systems for families to take advantage of. Budget constraints and limited resources hinder the agency’s ability to offer comprehensive services such as mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, and parenting programs. As a result, families struggling with multiple challenges find themselves trapped in a cycle of instability and risk. I personally watch one of my students be returned to his abusive home 7 times in 3 years and each time he was taken, the situation was worse than the time before.

False Reports traumatizing families:

As stated above, as a school district employee I was mandated to report what I perceived as abuse or neglect. Perceived is in bold print because perception is what reports begin with. Reports made by school staff, neighbors, a stranger at the store who follows you to your home for an address, an ex spouse, an ex friend, or the child themselves are based purely on perception. Anyone with a grudge can make a report and send lives into a spiral and be Anonymous while doing so. Given the fact that we all have experienced things that have shaped how we view the world, the simple act of removing a video game for a consequence or canceling a sleepover can be perceived as neglect if the person reporting doesn’t use these types of parenting tools. To them, your neglecting your child by excluding them from their peers causing them emotional distress. PTSD is a real issue among families who have been falsely accused and can cause irreparable damage in what was a strong family unit. When a child themselves is coerced into a false claim either by peers, a parent, or counselor they are at risk to have the same mental health issues an actual abused child has. A law firm helping to protect families has detailed the effects HERE & how this happens. Depending on the severity of the claim, this can result in any children in the home being removed without notice. Your children can be taken from school and rushed to strangers for interviews and exams while you assume your kids are in PE or in Math class. How would your child handle that? If you can’t explain an injury with your toddler who falls and runs into things because they are a toddler, you can go for a Drs check-up and the Dr can make a claim against you. The rise in these allegations is serious as we depend on a medical professional to look at injuries with a unbiased eye, but that is not always the case. In the article HERE by NBC News, we can see the uptick in these cases and the trauma caused to innocent families. This article proves these false claims can happen to EVERYONE with a child.

Foster Care goes unchecked in safety and racks in millions:

You would assume the best place for your child, if removed from you, would be with a family member. Unfortunately, in many many circumstances, family isn’t the first choice of CPS and they don’t even make efforts to place children with people they know and love. Since the story of the Turpin kids broke, there have been more investigations into the Foster Care program and its relationship with CPS. Children placed with family members are less kids in foster care. For every child not in foster care, that is one less child money can be made off of. A large light has been shown on this in Illinois as the article HERE shows. These people didn’t even have kids in their care and the person responsible to prevent the fraud, was the actual CPS worker. This is just one of MANY articles I found. Then there is the abuse….Did you know a child in foster care is 4 times more likely to be sexually abused than peers not in a foster care setting? FOUR TIMES!! I am giving you a trigger warning now for the article HERE as the stats on Foster Care covered could retraumatize those who have been abused, or have dealt with these broken systems. Excellent article, but hard to read.

Another issue is the total lack of accountability here. Over 55 kids on average go missing from the Foster Care System EACH DAY. CPS/DFS should have eyes on these kiddos and the families who are fostering them, but for reasons previously covered, that is not happening. This leaves the door wide open for adults who do not have the children’s best interests in mind to put these kids in situations no child should face. Did you know that most kids who are thrown into sex trafficking have been in or were supposed to be in the CPS/DFS systems care and were supposed to be in the care of loving foster families. The statistics are disgusting!! HERE you can see multiple statistics surrounding this area along with sources. Again, a hard read, but information that should be on the news DAILY! THESE KIDS ARE OUR FUTURE!

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I am well aware that there are good people who work in these systems, so please don’t mistake my findings as me believing these stats pertain to every CPS/DFS worker, every well meaning observer, every Dr, and every Foster Family. The issue isn’t with the individuals that are trying to make a difference. It is with the system that is broken that makes their jobs impossible to do without creating trauma or building on trauma already experienced. The statistics presented above paint a clear picture of the Department of Family Services’ incompetence in protecting vulnerable children and families. The failure to address child maltreatment effectively, overwhelming caseloads, high repeater rates, and inadequate support systems all point to the urgent need for reform. While dismantling the DFS system is a complex decision with significant implications, it is essential to reassess its structure, practices, and funding allocation. A reimagined child welfare system that prioritizes early intervention, family preservation, and comprehensive support services holds the potential to safeguard children and foster stronger, more resilient families. By recognizing the failures of the current system and working towards meaningful reform, a future can be created where children are truly protected and families are empowered to thrive.

I firmly believe that from this current time and into 2024, there will be MAJOR shake-ups, tear downs, and transformations. On an individual level, a collective level, and a System level Pluto shifting into Aquarius will reshape what has been become the norm, even tho logic says it is unacceptable. The particular situation that spurred me and triggered me to bring out these stats on the CPS/DFS System has me enraged and hopeful at the same time. I have hope that after a time of chaos that the dust will settle and there will be more heart and thought put into rebuilding the entities that are meant to be a voice for people and children will actually have our best interests in mind, and not the amount of money that can be made. Aquarius is the humanitarian of the Zodiac. The last time Pluto was here we had the birth of the US, Civil War, and The French Revolutionary War. Astrology is about patterns… It will be interesting to see what the near future brings.

***This is not meant to detour you from using your best judgement to keep children safe. What I mean to do is help others understand that making these reports shouldn’t be taken lightly. ALWAYS report suspected abuse and neglect to authorities.

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