In my last post about reporting abuse, I mentioned some reasons why CPS may remove children from their homes. But, before a child (or children) can be removed, there must be evidence that conditions exist in the home that threatens the life, safety or health of the child.

CPS will investigate all the reports, but first they must decide which ones are the most important. These are the cases where the children are in imminent danger, or where they suspect that the children are in danger. A CPS worker (usually and investigator) will investigate the reported abuse and that will result in either a substantiated or unsubstantiated case.

In substantiated cases, a service plan is developed to prevent the recurrence of abuse to the child, which may result in a legal dependency action with the juvenile court. Some of the services available through CPS are: day care, parent aides, medical and psychological examinations, counseling, shelter care, and other administrative and support services. It benefits the family to avail themselves of these services to avoid removal of the children from the home.

Some of the myths about abuse and neglect follow:

Myth:
The majority of parents who abuse their children are mentally ill.

Fact:
Fewer than 10% of abusive parents have a mental disorder.

Myth:
Physical abuse only occurs in lower socioeconomic levels.

Fact:
Reports of physical abuse have been confirmed in all socioeconomic levels.

Myth:
Young children have frequent accidents that result in broken bones.

Fact:
Many broken bones in children under age 2 are the result of intentional injury.

Myth:
A physician’s opinion is needed before a report of physical abuse can be made.

Fact:
Proof of injury is not necessary to make a report.

Myth:
Only children under age 16 can be reported as physically abused.

Fact:
Physical abuse to children under 18 should be reported.

Myth:
Children who are being abused by their parents will ask someone for help.

Fact:
Children are usually afraid to talk about their injuries or are too young to ask for help.

As Sharlene said in her excellent post the other day, the abusers are usually someone that the child knows and may not be a family member. Remember the days of “stranger danger?” The character Gideon on the show Criminal Minds mentioned this in one episode as one of the most destructive things that happened to preventing child abuse. We had kids scared of people they didn’t know, when they should have been worried about the ones they did know.