What it feels like to be investigated by Child Protective Services

I'm lucky. The woman who made the spite call on me tried to do so as leverage to get me to do something she wanted. When she threatened me, I immediately called the psychologist and social worker from my daughter's school, her developmental pediatrician, a lawyer, AND the government appointed social worker who handles my daughter's funding. With the exception of the pediatrician, all of these mandated reporters have been in our home MANY times, and in many cases, were the ones to recommend the interventions that the spite caller was complaining about. Thanks to the intervention of these professionals, the woman was labelled a malicious reporter, and other than some severe stress and anxiety while I rallied our posse, we suffered no problems. I am so grateful to those people, because I live in terror that some CPS worker who doesn't understand the strategies autism families are forced to employ will investigate us, and decide to remove my daughter before I can get the right advocates in place to intervene.

A special needs bus driver called CPS on me saying I was medically neglecting my son and that I was physically abusing him by locking him in his room where I couldn't see him.  He had bleeding from his ears that went on for a really long time, but he went to every specialist in Houston many times and it took the NIH to finally figure out the problem.  My son also is capable of escaping the house through doors or windows, so he must be locked in if someone is not with him at all times.  Like if I need a shower and nobody else is at home, he must be locked in for safety.  But I showed this bus driver the $10,000 room addition I was having built so my son would be even safer and happier, and I guess she was jealous?  It took almost 5 years, but she finally ran her mouth to someone I know and now I am certain she called CPS on me.  The investigation started the morning of my wedding 5 years ago and it took 4 months for CPS to clear me, after NOT calling even one doctor and NOT calling my ex-husband and NOT calling any other references.  I am still disgusted by the whole thing.  They treat you like you are some sort of criminal.  They took pictures of my fridge and the kids' rooms, and all my children.  They interviewed by older kids (12 and 14 then) and asked them if I DID SOMETHING to my son to cause this genetic syndrome and how do I PUNISH him?  They were disgusted, I was traumatized.  I will never feel safe and secure in my home, knowing there are people out there who will do something like this to hurt my family.  The invasion of privacy was out of control, and the fact that this woman put me and my family through that hell with no repercussions makes me sick.  And wouldn't you know she has showed up to where I work so that I have had to provide her with customer service and then she actually sent me a Facebook friend request!  I blocked her, of course.  So yeah, CPS needs an overhaul of some kind...probably the investigators need to have more education and be better paid.  And there needs to be a whole lot more of them to handle the cases.  And there needs to be some sort of repercussions for people who make false reports.  That would help the whole situation with angry, divorcing parents who call CPS to cause trouble for the other parent.

You have my sympathy for this situation! I'm a professional who is considered a mandated reported. I get the feeling I'm going thru Alice's looking glass every time I deal with CPS.  I've walked with a family where calling CPS was actually justified, but they were worse than useless. An aunt and grandparents were trying to help a child diagnosed with Asperger's whose parents are alcoholics, abusive, did not follow up on meds, or nutrition, and that was the tip of the iceberg. As part of their support network, I've been in on several meetings with CPS. Despite a criminal record, a long history of substance abuse, despite the school's documentation of abusive behavior, we were informed that they wouldn't 'give up' on the mom (unlike her family!) and we received a condescending lecture on the primacy of family reunification. The extended family has all of the responsibility, none of the power to make decisions, and little support from CPS.   If someone calls social services with a anonymous complaint against the parent(s), you are guilty, GUILTY, suspect, until proven innocent by their standards. If you are a family member or other mandated reporter and you report an act of neglect or abuse you witnessed, resources seem directed towards the abuser/parent. I can't imagine what's its like for you and parents like Erika who are pitted against this monster. There needs to be greater accountability when accusations are false, and greater protection for families. 

Rob,
I have been there and am currently waiting on a CPS worker who "came by yesterday but we weren't home", but I had rearranged my schedule specifically FOR her.

My ex has learned to work the system. He abused me when we were married and has called CPS on me more than a few times - whenever he doesn't get what he wants. So I feel like I am still being abused daily, living in fear of a system that was supposed to protect me and my kids.

Now it is the school calling. I fear it is because I make a stink and hold them accountable on all aspects of their "schooling" and "care". I refuse to have him ride the bus (since the one time he did he was let off at the wrong stop). I won't let him go to extended school (i.e. summer school) because we witnessed a kid running off campus down the street. I have weekly meetings with the teacher and staff to know what he is doing, how we can work with him at home, etc. They aren't used to that. Over all I am an overly concerned parent.

But my son has an "autistic sensitivity to pain". He feels none. Therefore he doesn't know he's getting hurt. If it even seems the slightest bit serious, we make sure he sees his doctor - who is the one who pointed it out to me when he was less than A YEAR OLD!
So we are sitting here, waiting for someone who has verbally threatened to take the kids away due to her own error. Yet many kids who could use CPS, go unreported daily.