When to Call the Other Parent CPS and When Not to Call

Making the decision to call the other parent’s Child Protective Services (CPS) is a tough decision that most of us will ever arrive at lightly. We may be afraid of retaliation – or we may be afraid that we are wrong and are about to make someone’s life unnecessarily intimidating or stressful. But there are times when we have a responsibility to report possible cases of abuse or neglect to protect a child. Let’s talk about the role of child protection services and when we should call them.

What is KPS really?

Child Welfare is the division of your state’s department of social services that evaluates, investigates, and, if necessary, responds to child abuse and neglect. (Although it may not actually be called “CPS” in your state, these services are called differently from state to state, such as the Department of Family Services, the Department of Youth and Family Affairs, or Services for Children and Family.)

Once the CPS receives the report, their role is assessed by the non-profit organization Stop It Now! consists in:

• Determine if the child has been abused or neglected
• Protect your child from immediate danger
• Assess the risk of continuing danger to the child
• Decide what measures are needed to keep your child safe and follow these steps, sometimes with the help of other government agencies or programs.
• Decide if you need ongoing family support, such as case management, counseling, or medical care. Ongoing support may include programs and services from organizations other than CPS.

It is also important to note that when you are trying to decide whether to call or not, each condition has its own definitions for three reasons why you should report parenting to the CPS: physical abuse, sexual abuse and exploitation, and neglect. Here you can view the statutes of each state .

Deciding whether to make a call to CPS

There are real reasons to hesitate to call CPS if you suspect abuse or neglect. To begin with, it is important to recognize that black children are disproportionately represented in child protection systems . Black parents are also more commonly reported, they are more likely to be investigated by child protection services, and their parental rights are terminated more often.

In addition, we know that removing any child from home injures them, disrupts their attachment to their biological family, and can have a long-term impact on their mental health – even if removal is necessary for their safety. So this should never be taken lightly.

However, Ellen Smith, clinical assistant professor and coordinator of child protection education at the University of Wisconsin, tells her father that in some cases it is necessary. Here are the top three reasons she’s calling, as well as signs to look out for:

• Physical violence. Does the child show signs of injury or do you think there is an imminent threat of violence?
• Sexual assault. Have you seen certain behavioral signs , such as flinching or raising your arms in a defensive manner? Do you have any suspicions of sexual abuse or exploitation?
• Neglect . Does the child in question live in an unsuitable environment? Are they left alone for long periods of time without proper care? A more detailed explanation can be found here .

If your situation meets these criteria, collect any evidence you have or records of observations you have made before calling. The fact that you call does not automatically mean that an investigation will be carried out – the social worker will most likely ask you several questions to determine if the intervention is warranted given the information you have provided and your state’s bylaws. If you fear bullying, you can ask for information anonymously (or ask not to share your contact information with the other parent).

What to do if a child is in immediate danger

All of the above assumes that the child is not in immediate danger of harm. However, if you see or hear anything that indicates an immediate danger to them, skip the CPS and call the police. The CPS is not a law enforcement agency and cannot respond to emergencies.

An immediate threat will include watching someone physically harm the child, or hearing screams or sounds that sound like the child is being harmed or in danger.