Signed Away
A Tampa Bay Times investigation reveals that many Hillsborough County families lose custody of children without legal representation or hearings. The report highlights over 300 cases where parents were pressured into temporary custody transfers. A…
The Carve-Out Nobody Applied
Karyann Parkinson faced legal repercussions after allowing her five-year-old son to walk alone in their gated community, despite Virginia's 2023 "Reasonable Childhood Independence" law designed to protect such independence. The case highlights the law's…
Now You Know, Pete
Pete Buttigieg shared a harrowing experience with Child Protective Services following a false allegation, emphasizing the emotional toll of such encounters. While he was quickly vindicated, he highlighted that many parents endure prolonged struggles…
Months Missing: The Tristan King Case Shows How the System Failed a Child
Tristan King, a nine-year-old boy missing for nearly six months in Baltimore, was ultimately found alive, raising serious concerns about systemic failures in child welfare. Despite multiple agencies' involvement, gaps in communication and oversight…
The Silence of the Brave: How Nancy Schaefer’s Death Unmasked a Web of Government Corruption Beyond CPS
When Georgia State Senator Nancy Schaefer dared to expose the cash-for-kids corruption inside Child Protective Services, she uncovered more than bureaucratic mismanagement—she revealed a government-funded machine incentivized to destroy families. Months…
When Child Welfare Hides the File, Parents Pay the Price
A mother in Oldham County, Kentucky, has filed a lawsuit against the state’s child welfare agency for allegedly denying access to crucial records concerning her child's welfare case. This highlights a broader issue of transparency in child welfare…
When Independence Becomes “Neglect”: A Family-Court Cautionary Tale
A recent case in Atlanta raised concerns over a ruling of neglect against parents whose child rode a scooter alone for four minutes in their neighborhood. This incident reflects a troubling trend where parental judgment is overridden by bureaucratic…
When Schools Become Enforcers: A Lawsuit Claims NYC Used Child Protective Services as Leverage Against a Parent
A New York lawsuit reveals how schools may misuse Child Protective Services (CPS) referrals to coerce non-compliant parents, as demonstrated by a Queens mother’s allegations. This practice, which complicates parental disputes over education, raises…
New Mexico Ends a Practice That Should Never Have Been Normal
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has banned children in state custody from sleeping overnight in government offices, addressing a serious failure in the child welfare system. This order emphasizes the state's responsibility to provide safe…
New York Ends Anonymous CPS Hotline Calls — A Shift That Matters for Parents in Family Court
In December 2025, New York's Anti-Harassment in Reporting Act mandates that anyone reporting child abuse or neglect must provide their name and contact information, ending total anonymity for informants. This law aims to prevent misuse of anonymous CPS…