kalekona
Well-Known Member
(Salem, I have a question kinda along the same lines).
What areas of CPS do you feel needs to be changed and why? If address alerts won't work for example, what would?
I think about our teachers here in my state. They've told me many times that they are governed by certain laws that make teaching less effective.
My mother was a sexual and domestic abuse victims advocate in your neck of the woods-- Salem actually and even she was a mandated reporter. And that isn't limited to just the state she lives/works/volunteers in but anywhere she witnesses abuse.
It isn't any different here in WA.
I know much of the problem with CPS is simply not enough funding,not enough workers and FAR to many unfounded reports- how are they suppose to decide which reports need follow up and which don't? There just isn't enough staff, time or funding to check them all out.
WA had laws changed and harsher penalties initiated for abuse cases- We have a Homicide by abuse charge that is meant to be used for cases where death occurs after long term abuse, torture- Maximum sentence is 26 years (but I have seen it doubled in an exceptional sentence) But I have seen the charge used less than a dozen times since it was enacted.-- My point is we changed laws and punishment as well as DSHS procedure and yet we still have kids that fall through the cracks--
More Laws, more paper work more of any of the changes suggested here will not solve or help the problem because EVERYTHING boils down to the human ellement. A human has to look at these reports and use there gut to make a final decision about which call to take seriously.
As for permanently removing children from parents involved in drug use- seems that thought comes from someone who has no experience with drug addiction and the complexities that are involved. It simply isn't a black or white issue.