Ryan and Kelly Kingston* were expecting their newest baby boy and Kelly wanted to have a home birth. Everything with the labor and delivery went smoothly. Baby John made his arrival on schedule, healthy and doing great. However, when Kelly’s bleeding did not stop, they immediately went to the ER. When the three of them […]
Help the Romeike family
Many homeschool families may remember the Romeikes, the German family who fled to the U.S. in 2008 so they could homeschool free from government persecution. Although they were not granted asylum here, they have been living in the U.S. under an “indefinitely deferred action status” since 2013…until recently. Last month, the Office of Immigration and […]
Newborn Eye Ointment and Parental Rights
Laws governing the care of newborns abound. One of these measures is the requirement that an eye ointment be administered for the prevention of infantile blindness. Nearly every state generally requires this, and some penalize medical professionals or even parents for failure to comply. Many states additionally require newborn eye infections to be reported to […]
Author Durenda Wilson: “This happened to our family.”
“Have you ever wondered what you would do if CPS showed up at your door? This happened to our family a little over a year ago and today I’m telling our story.” In her recent podcast episode, Durenda Wilson, homeschool mom and author of The Unhurried Homeschooler and The Four Hour School Day, recounts her […]
When can CPS come in my home?
When a CPS social worker knocks on your door, they normally intend to do more than just stand on your front porch. In addition to typically wanting to interview your children, they also normally want to inspect your home. They may make you feel like you have no choice but to let them in, but […]
Member Story: CPS came, then the police.
One evening, Eric and Ashley Mackenzie* were getting ready to put their three children to bed when they unexpectedly heard a knock on the door. Eric answered the door, and was shocked at what he heard. “I’m from the Department of Social Services, and we’ve received a report of neglect of your children.” The CPS […]
Mandatory Reporting Laws
She doubted the parents were neglectful, but failing to report suspected child abuse or neglect was a crime. So to play it safe, she reported the family anyway, knowing her identity would never be disclosed. This all too common vignette is the origin of many unnecessary CPS investigations. Child abuse is a serious problem, but […]
Member Story: We ended up in court
After the Lavons’ church preached a sermon about child training, some embittered ex-members of the church heard about it. They then twisted it out of context and accused the Lavons and numerous other families in the church of excessive corporal discipline. To defend the Lavons, Heritage Defense fought the system all the way to court. […]
Newborn blood spot retention and parental rights
After collecting blood spots for newborn screening, the dried blood spot (DBS) specimens are sent to a designated state laboratory for testing. These blood samples in state possession include newborns’ DNA. States have different laws governing parental rights to restrict DBS use. In some states, parents may completely restrict DBS use and request its destruction. […]
Child “blows up” Santa. CPS investigates.
“Santa is dead,” 6-year-old Noah Kemp* announced grimly. The other young children at tumbling class looked at him in surprise. This was not a very merry sentiment. “No, he’s not!” someone piped up. “Yes, he is!” Noah shot back, “He came down the chimney, so I blew him up.” A few little boys seemed impressed, […]