Replies to '08/07 Against All Odds'

"Depending on the state"...  which state did you retire as CPS investigator?  "...They fought investigators".... "A little more investigation... by whom? the investigator?  "bad decisons on the part of these undereducated do gooders"...I thought decisions were made by the Judges???  In my state. the do gooders only make "recommendations" to the Judge and the Judge decides based on the facts....  I can understand your frustration as I am sure you have seen many unforgettable outcomes, you most certainly were overworked and underpaid, but there are usually "some" good apples in every barrel.   Saving "some" of the children is better than saving none.  We are all not perfect and I know many a judge who has had case decisions they made which bothered them (but they had to follow the law), but as you and I both know...nothing is perfect...IF IT WERE....you and your fellow workers would not have had to "cringe" whenever a CASA person was court ordered to your case ~ there would be no need for CASA workers OR CPS investigators. 

 

Thank God I live in America.....this is my opinion and I am stickin to it! :)

 

 

Often the caseworkers are to blame for a child being returned to an unsavory home, but in my state it is ultimately the judge's decision that has been assigned to the case.  I have a wonderful relationship with my caseworkers at our Department of Human Services.  The caseworkers are overworked and the foster system including the case workers, the money for the family keeping the child until they can be returned to their family or to a more permanent home, everything is under payed and understaffed. 

 

We have 5 children in our home right now and their is alot more waiting for a foster home in our temporary

shelters.  Which I would like to add is ran by a wonderful group of caring people.  Not an institution like setting at all. 

I'm sorry, that in your state, CASA's were adamant about returning a child to the home they were removed from.  In the state where I was a CASA we were told that we were to advocate for the best interest of the child, no matter what that might be.  It was the state who said the first goal was reunification.  The parents have a lawyer who does what THEY want, the child has a lawyer who does what the CHILD wants, but the CASA is a neutral party who does what's best for the child.  Because a CASA is appointed by the judge and has more assessibilty to information than a case worker, our CPS workers actually wanted us to be involved.  Granted, I would love to have "fixed" every home so the child could return, but if that was not the safest place then I would look for other more suitable situations.  The CASA program can be a great thing for a child.  I'm sorry your experience was a bad one for you and possibly the children you represented.