RE: [Family Protection] Know The Enemy: Introduction
@lturner this work is on the right path. Knowledge and understanding is key.....where many posts so far have been the story from the 'victim' or their friend. And these stories are important for bringing up awareness of a serious problem.
I support @familyprotection 100%, but one side that has been bugging me is that 'the monster is out to destroy your family'. I believe that many CPS workers enter that work for the right reason. I also know first hand that government 'enforcement' work tends to warp people. There are certain qualities of it that bring out the worst in people. In brief, my opinion is, many of these 'enforcement' jobs should never be career jobs. Two to five years is the maximum time most people can healthily endure before they become substantially warped.
Back on focus to my point here..... Sin and evil does exist in this world. Many parents do a poor job at caring for their children. And a horrid percentage (0.50 - 5.0%) actually abuse, neglect and harm their children. So in theory, a 'protective' agency sounds reasonable and necessary. But in many cases something goes wrong. Power, perversion, ignorance or fear is causing or allowing the workers of these agencies to do more harm than good.
I hope your 'big picture' analysis can construct a fair and useful understanding for us as Steemians, community members and society members. Good luck and looking forward to your work!!
I'm hoping so as well. I do actually personally know people involved in the system, but what I'm witnessing is the monster of the system which tends to swallow even what good people try to do within that framework. It absolutely does bring out the worst in people, much worse than even the cynicism that affect police officers; seeing bad things does bad things to people.
The problem as I see it is the philosophy driving the system itself. The whole thing was set up to counter legitimate outrages which should be stopped: there really are people out there who do terrible things to their children. But the Child Protection System has lost it's way and at this point is corrupted to the point that I'm not even sure it can be saved.
Whatever the case, I believe the beginning of restoring some sanity is to roll back and regain control of a system that's currently out of control. There are actually already legal remedies available that have been legislated in the United States but never implemented and I personally think that's a good place to start, especially since there are people ready and waiting to take part in those solutions.
Thanks and hopefully I'll be able to show the evolution of thought and philosophy rather than just attacking anyone on a personal level, which is not what I want to do!
I do look forward to your future posts on this subject. I know how the system works (and doesn't work) here in the U.S. but know little of how it is approached in other countries. Only a short while here with @familyprotection has brought to light that the problem is world wide and an issue that needs addressing.
It may not be that CPS has lost it's way but more like it has been directed in such a way that as you say "I'm not sure it can be saved.
A steemian posted a few days ago about how child protection used to operate in the beginning. It appears it was more conducted through private charities within communities rather than funded through the government. Many do not relate marketing tactics to social service agencies, but there is certainly a lot of it that takes place within the higher level of government that oversees these programs.
I recently posted on the Buchanan Bill that has been signed into law here in the states. It changes the focus for CPS from removing children to better serving the families and leaving the children in the home. It is a good first step, however, until it is made public few will realize this is something that needs to be challenged when CPS knocks at the door. Big changes take considerable time to reach the network of agencies and then training time for all staff to become accustomed to the changes. It does however give us a window of opportunity. Sad that mainstream media is not focused on reality these days and most likely will not be sharing the information with the general public.
Steem on my friend, it is a battle of good vs. evil. Am following you so as to hopefully not miss your upcoming information. Thank you for taking this on.
I haven't run across or heard of the Buchanan Bill, although that is great news. I'm adding it to my list of topics to dig into!
If it's a refocus on families, it would be a roll-back to pre-1974 policies since it was after legislation in the mid-70s that the official CPS focus became "the child" instead of "the family". You'd think it wouldn't be a big deal for Child Protective Services to focus singly on the child, but the legislation was apparently influenced by the whole philosophy I highlighted in the Richard Gelles quote: that families and children are not essentially linked and biology is not what investigators should be trying to accommodate when considering child removal.
This whole thing is so much part of the broader picture wherein we're all being cut loose from the ties that anchor and strengthen us: our families, our marriages, even our gender now. The mental and physical anguish this loosey-goosey treatment of essential biological truths such as children are generally best raised by their blood parents is playing havoc with our entire society.
Here is more info from a post I made a few weeks go. There is a link directly to the bill on there. @richq11 was looking into it more. Only 2 big concerns with it at this point. It does dish out additional funding to expedite adoptions which is a bit worrisome. The other concern I have is that something good seems to take a while for those effected to catch up. The gov. really should make a point to send announcement asap to all CPS agencies and family courts. https://steemit.com/fullyinformedpublic/@vickiebarker/u-s-president-signs-buchanan-bill-aimed-at-keeping-families-together
Thanks and will read up! @richq11 has been working on this whole information quest for the past few months, I notice, which is what initially sparked me to start reading history. I realized how little of it I knew!
Expediting adoptions...yes, that's a two-edged sword. On one hand, if a child really was taken from an awful place, getting him or her placed permanently as soon as possible takes away the limbo situation so many foster kids are caught in. But it also means that innocent parents are more likely than ever to lose their kids because the process happens so fast they don't have time to respond or stop it.
Another thing going for us is the intent of the bill is readily available. Not only throughout the bill but in the press release so it can be used if/when challenged. Yes, @richq11 is very helpful in so many areas. Well, there are many good people here on this platform, I am continually impressed.
I do also have to say...as one of Sander Levin's constituents, I get suspicious that he's involved in the Buchanan Bill. Sander is not...exactly...someone I highly trust with family freedom and individual rights.
Well that is curious too. @richq11 raised suspicion that Carl Levin is involved and although he is no longer there, I think Sander is his brother? This is certainly a law to watch and see how they roll it out. We must persevere in our diligence at this point, we have little choice otherwise. The world is turned upside down and Agenda 21/2030 is still moving ahead at every turn.
You are so right on the mark. The jobs in social work can cause "burn out", and when staff get to that point they have a choice to make. Drop out of the game, fight within the system to change it (which usually leads to unemployment) or succumb to the hardening of their own personal convictions of the heart that eventually comes. Unfortunately most case workers are complacent in their choice to stay because they feel they can't walk away from a steady income that not only provides their needs but offers benefits, security and the prestige they feel by having control over others. Also, they know if they leave that position the system will simply fill it with another.
I read both your comments, thank you!