One bright Friday morning, Courtney Caddo* took her two daughters, two-year-old Mia and five-year-old Ella, to a park day with lots of other parents and children from their church. While Ella played on the playground, Courtney was at a picnic table visiting with five other parents while Mia played next to her. At one point, […]
Tag: child
Member Story: Abortion activists used CPS to attack my family.
When Christopher and Ashley Bachman* began pleading for the lives of preborn children at abortion clinics and publicly around town, they understood the costs. The Bachmans knew that they would become objects of profanity, insults, hatred, and potentially even physical violence. Nevertheless, seeking to love their neighbors as themselves, they went anyway, and they often […]
Is it legal to spank my child?
In most states, state statutes explicitly allow for reasonable physical discipline of a child–often called corporal punishment or corporal discipline. In the states without such statutes, case law from courts allow for it.¹ Whether by statute or case law, every state allows parents to discipline a child with reasonable and developmentally-appropriate force in order to […]
Can parents legally record social workers?
Can parents legally record interactions with government social workers, law enforcement, or others? Must they provide notice that the conversation is being recorded or otherwise get consent? Not surprisingly, the answers to these questions differ by state. Unfortunately, most states do not have a specific law governing whether a citizen may record a law enforcement […]
Member Story: Two months after giving birth, CPS was investigating me for child abuse.
This member story was originally published by Heritage Defense in 2018. The Halberts had been so vigilant about caring for their newborn baby boy, Jacob.* Within the first two weeks of his birth, they had already gone to two checkups with his doctor and almost everything was looking great. However, since Jacob was below his […]
Member Story: Innocent accident? Mandated report.
It had been a normal day so far for the Wheeler* family, Ashley was cleaning in the kitchen while 4-year-old Rachel played in the living room. Ashley finished in the kitchen and walked into the next room to pick up Rachel who was playing on the floor next to the couch. What Ashley didn’t see […]
Member Story: One day out of the blue…
Thomas and Lori Whitney* recently remodeled their home. Because of some construction debris in their yard awaiting pickup, someone reported them to child protective services (CPS). They wrote this story about their own case: “One day out of the blue we received a visitor to our residence. We were not home and they left a […]
Member Story: Trusted counselor makes CPS report.
Kelly Walters* was going through a rough patch in her life, so she started seeing a counselor at a Christian counseling center. After several sessions, Kelly casually mentioned to the counselor that Kelly’s teenage son sometimes watched the younger children while Kelly ran an errand. Kelly thought nothing of mentioning it and the counselor said […]
Member Story: I questioned a nurse. Then CPS showed up.
Robert and Kimberly Tyler* were in the hospital with their 11-yr-old daughter Sophia. Sophia was battling a potentially fatal inflammation of the heart’s valves and lining. She would have to undergo open-heart surgery. As the hospital was preparing Sophia for surgery, a nurse came into the hospital room and told Robert and Kimberly that she […]
Member Story: Dispute with landlord turns into CPS report
Michael and Lisa Travis* had no warning when CPS knocked on their door. No accidents requiring a hospital trip had occurred, none of the children were sick, and there had been no dispute or conflict with any extended family. CPS did not even tell Michael and Lisa the allegations or who had reported them; they […]