The Power of the Child Warden to Destroy Families

TimK — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 07:00:00 -0800

The Orwellian term is “Child Protective Services,” or something similar. After all, who could possibly be against protecting children? Or “service”? But as it frequently is with government agencies, maybe a different term would be more accurate. Maybe: “Child Paternalism Services.”

Stephen. C. Smith describes what happens after the Maine DHHS serves you with a “substantiation” notice:

Prior to a few years ago… the Department would require the subject of the letter not to have contact with children—even their own natural children who were not subject to any allegations. (I.e. a man accused of sexual contact with a 15 year old unrelated girl might be prohibited from living with his 3 year old son or his natural teenage daughter.) There would not need to be a court order, because the prohibition would be phrased in such a way that if the “suggestion” were not followed, the Department would seek an ex parte court order snatching the children and placing them in a foster home…

[Today, however, the individual] can appeal to an internal DHHS hearing… Surprisingly, I have had some success at this level. A recent case consisted solely of the allegation that my client, a foster grandfather figure, had sexually molested his “grandaughter” based on the statement by the 4 year old that “pop-pop took a rat out of my butt with rat clippers.” Based on this nonsensical statement and absolutely no other evidence, my client was substantiated through the hearing officer level…

((Click here to read the whole post.))

He sums up: “Often the clients find themselves in some additional trouble, they give up or they run out of money.”

So… Partly an encouraging story, partly discouraging.

The lesson remains, however: Just because a government stooge tells you he’s “for the children,” don’t assume that he really is for the children. Government is not run by saints. It’s run by ordinary sinners, like you and me, except that they have also been saddled with power. It’s never really “for the children.” It’s for the people exercising the power, to make them feel like they’re doing something worthwhile, or at least something that satisfies them. Because of this immutable law of human nature, unchecked power to “protect” children will almost certainly harm children and rip apart their families.

Always watching!
-TimK

P.S. Here in Massachusetts, it’s called the Department of Social Services, or the “DSS.” It’s that SS on the end that makes me think this one might be aptly named.

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The Power of the Child Warden to Destroy Families