Child Protective Services
| |
| Child Protective Services (CPS) | |
|---|---|
| Created in | Varies by state (federal involvement since 1974) |
| And a major problem since | Inception in each state |
| Website | Varies by state |
Child Protective Services is the Orwellian name given to what is technically a set of state agencies that are typically incentivized by the Federal Government to destroy families. Child "Protective" Services consistently destroy families and all too often put children in very bad and dangerous situations leading to the exact outcomes their proponents claim to be seeking to prevent. Federal incentives only serve to crank the damage up to eleven.
What Is This?
Child Protective Services, or CPS, is a branch of many state governments in charge of "protecting children" in cases of neglect, abuse, etc. when reported. Some states have different names for this agency such as the Department of Children and Family (DCF), Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), and others. Despite being state-level agencies, they are heavily influenced and incentivized by federal policies and funding.
Why Does This Exist?
CPS agencies were created ostensibly to protect children from abuse and neglect. The modern form of CPS emerged in the 1970s, with the federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1974 providing funding and guidance to states in exchange for establishing child abuse reporting and investigation systems. However, in practice, these agencies have become mechanisms for government intrusion into family life and often cause more harm than they prevent.
What Has It Done?
CPS agencies have a track record of actions that harm families and children:
- Separated children from loving families based on overzealous interpretations of neglect or abuse
- Placed children in foster care systems where they often face higher risks of abuse
- Disproportionately targeted low-income and minority families
- Ignored or mishandled cases of actual severe abuse, leading to tragic outcomes
- Created a culture of fear around parenting, discouraging healthy independence in children
- Incentivized false reporting and unnecessary interventions due to federal funding structures
What's Wrong With It?
CPS embodies numerous problems inherent to government intervention in family life:
- Perverse Incentives: Federal funding often incentivizes child removal rather than family preservation
- Lack of Accountability: CPS workers often have qualified immunity, shielding them from consequences of bad decisions
- Violation of Due Process: Families often face guilty-until-proven-innocent scenarios in CPS investigations
- One-Size-Fits-All Approach: CPS guidelines often fail to account for cultural differences and individual family circumstances
- Mission Creep: What started as protection against severe abuse has expanded to encompass minor parenting disagreements
- Inefficiency: Resources are often wasted on unnecessary investigations while severe cases are overlooked
How Do We Get Rid Of It?
Abolishing CPS would require action at both state and federal levels. As libertarians, we advocate for:
- Repealing federal laws that incentivize and fund state CPS agencies
- Encouraging community-based, voluntary support systems for families in need
- Reforming laws to require due process and evidence of harm before any family separation
- Promoting education on peaceful parenting and conflict resolution within families
- Supporting legal challenges to CPS overreach and violations of parental rights
Questions For Further Research
- How Do Outcomes For Children In CPS Care Compare To Those In Intact Families?
- What Are The Long-term Societal Costs Of Family Separation Through CPS?
- How Have Other Countries Addressed Child Protection Without CPS-style Agencies?
- What Role Does The Foster Care System Play In Perpetuating CPS Problems?
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