In 1974, the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act was passed as concerns about child abuse began to emerge (Pecora 230). In reaction to this act, the Child Protective Services (CPS) was founded by partial funding by the federal government (Pecora 231). Nevertheless, the CPS received 2 million child maltreatment reports in 2010 of which 90.3 percent were investigated, of these, only 24,976 were indicated and investigated (Child Protective Services). This leaves a large number of cases that have not been investigated. Moreover, it is a now a known fact domestic violence in the household can also have negative effects on children (Dodd 22). This paper attempts to prove that the CPS in California is not taking responsible care of domestic child abuse cases.
Statement: CPS in irresponsible in the protection of the children in cases of domestic violence
There are several cases of child abuse in domestic environments, where the delay in CPS action has resulted in horrific consequences. For example, in July 2010 a South California Couple abandoned their four-year-old nephew with the battered body of their three-year-girl adopted daughter, Serenity Julia Gandara, in Bakersfield (Sanchez). In fact, both the children belonged to the accused man’s sister and the couple were in the process of adopting them (Sanchez). The children had been physically abused and Serenity had succumbed to her wounds. The grandmother, that is, the accused woman’s mother stated, “I told her (CPS worker) many times something happened with these kids” (Sanchez). However, they had failed to investigate the matter. Conversely, the CPS’ ill judgement in carrying out its duties has caused the forced and traumatic separation of many parents and children. For example, in the Calabretta v. Floyd case, a CPS worker, Jill Floyd, from Yolo County along with a police officer, forcefully entered a home in Calabretta without any warrant and demanded a strip search of the Calabretta’s three-year-old daughter (California Homeschool Network). No case of child abuse by the parents could be proved and the accused sought immunity on the grounds of their profession (California Homeschool Network). The Calabrettas won and the plaintiff’s statement “No longer can social workers enter a home without either a warrant or probable cause of an emergency” echoes happily in the minds of worrying parents (California Homeschool Network).
It can be argued that when the CPS gets 2 million cases per year, investigation becomes somewhat difficult. However, the new legislations or ideas protect children in domestic violence situations have been criticized for their inadequacy. While, the above-mentioned case is a victory for the people, it also shows that the basic problem here is the antifamily mindset of the CPS (Scott 179). It can be agreed that California is improving the education of domestic violence in schools, within medical providers, and in society. However, the impact of this education is not being observed. This means that the methods of providing education are faulty. However, the number of complaints to the CPS from 2009 to 2010 has reduced from 2.5 to 2 million. The CPS investigated 90.3 percent of the cases instead of the 61.9 percent in 2009. This improvement cannot be considered substantial, and the education delivering methods have to be refined for better results. That mandatory counselling is required for the perpetrator, but not for the victims is a wrong approach, and educating the people with this approach can harm rather than cure. The potential victims’ awareness can often save them.
The CPS has floundered several times now, and its mistakes are extremely dangerous, because of the nature of its work. The amount of the work does not justify their lacklustre performance. Each worker has to take up the responsibility of protecting the children with compassion and forethought. However, they do not have to become powerful law implementers who do their work objectively. This paper opines that the import the CPS workers give to their jobs should be greater. A certain degree of negligence among the workers is apparent from the above-mentioned cases. The government should consider allocating some funds for training the CPS workers and hiring professionals, rather than allocating most of the taxpayers’ money into the ever-increasing defence budget of the country. Workers should be educated about exercising concern and taught conversation and dialogue strategies with parents and children. The performance of the CPS workers should be closely monitored by a higher and responsible authority. The education against crime perpetrators should be given alongside the education of committing such crimes. Moreover, child abuse would only result in more crime perpetrators and lead the country in a downward path. It has been shown in a study on 13 African- American children that “rates of return to human capital investment” are always positive, and if the CPS invests a dollar, a return of 7.16 USD can be expected (Melhuish). All the adults of the society should take up the onus for assuring that America’s children live safe lives for a better tomorrow.
Works Cited
Works Cited
California Homeschool Network (2008) “Victories for Parents' Rights May Help in Dealing with CPS” Retrieved 2012-2-27 http://californiahomeschool.net/howTo/cps.htm.
Child Protective Services. Retrieved 2012-2-27 http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/pubs/cm10/index.htm.
Dodd, L. W. (2009). “Therapeutic groupwork with young children and mothers who have experienced domestic abuse.” Educational Psychology in Practice 25.21. Print.
Melhuish, T. (2006) “Why Early Intervention?” Retrieved 2012-2-27 http://wayback.archive.org/web/jsp/Interstitial.jsp?seconds=5&date=1182470796000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.community.nsw.gov.au%2Fdocuments%2Fearly_intervention%2Fwhy_early_intervention.pdf&target=http%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20070622000636%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.community.nsw.gov.au%2Fdocuments%2Fearly_intervention%2Fwhy_early_intervention.pdf.
Pecora, P. J., Whittaker, J., Maluccio, A., and Barth, R. (2000). The child welfare challenge: Policy, practice, and research. Berlin: Aldine de Gruyter, 230–231. Print.
Scott, B. (1994) Out of Control: Who’s Watching Our Child Protection Agencies? 179. Print.
Sanchez, R. “Boy Left Behind With Body of Dead Sister; Family Flees” abc News (6-20-2010). Retrieved 2012-2-27 http://abcnews.go.com/US/boy-abandoned-body-dead-sister-southwest-bakersfield-california/story?id=11205259#.T0tiU_VKz2Y.
