Kids before Career

Few are surprised to hear a CPS-worker say “Child Protective Services is a nasty business!”  But most would be surprised by the reasons why.  The reason that CPS is a grueling, depressing and downright vile place to work has nothing to do with atrocities committed upon children.  Thankfully, these are much more rare than most think.  The primary reason CPS is so loathsome (for most) is the reality that neither parents’ rights nor what’s actually best for children are ever considered.
Once in a (great) while, someone remains in CPS that actually cares more about kids than career advancement.  Most of us, those who share the majority societal views of justice and family sanctity, quit early on.  However, some of us gluttons-for-punishment, or those who stay on for any of myriad reasons (none of which is job-satisfaction, of course) can either “go-along-to-get-along” or be outspoken about ideals that most Americans adore and, as a result, become pariahs.
Those of us that stay on, (us pariahs) quickly develop glass ceilings and therefore never attain positions where we might initiate change that would actually help children.  Perhaps not becoming a “bureaucrat” is reward enough for this limited or truncated career path, however, as I frequently and in all seriousness utter to my superiors: “Sucks for the kids!”
That said; if those of us with more mainstream-American political proclivities always precipitously quit how might a government agency that does more harm than good ever change?  If the public never hears the truth about CPS, how might it be expunged?  Who will stop this monolith?
To oversimplify the equation (albeit, not by much) workers can either focus (often with the benefit of ignorance or cowardice) on being a “company-man” OR (with the benefit of copious self-study and research) focus on actually helping kids and families.  To chose the latter and stay, fight the good fight, is to live under constant threat of termination and family upheaval.  But hey, courage is doing what’s right even when it hurts, right?
Of course, a big-picture perspective, and outside self-study, is required to inform oneself towards effectively helping kids.  The Child Welfare agency will never teach its minions the truth about removal usually being the worst thing these kids experience.  There is too much money to be had from adoption, that most lucrative end-result for removed children.  That most glorified culmination that corral’s the greatest possible federal subsidies.
Further, as Nancy Schaefer dared to utter prior to her execution: in order to maintain the (federal) funding-flow the agency needs fresh “merchandise.”
“Fresh merchandise” (i.e. removed children) is not acquired by CPS investigators that attempt to maintain families.  It is only the overzealous, myopic and, of course blessedly ignorant and/or cowardly, CPS workers that believe they’re doing the child a favor by removing them from their non-abusive parents…(popularly known for years as “erring on the side of the child”)…that maintain a steady influx of “merchandise.”
These are your valuable (monetarily speaking) CPS caseworkers that the agency prizes so highly.  This MO is what makes one a “company-man” (or, more likely, woman).  This is what prevents a worker from acquiring a glass-ceiling and/or ending one’s career.  If you chose not to prioritize the money over the kids…well…you’re done.
Who knew “Child Protective Services” was not a good place to work for those who hoped only to devote their careers to children.
So…from one who has sacrificed his/her career…and yet (so far) continues to fight the good fight from within CPS, I can tell you, every day could be my last.  But, in the meantime, I am gratified by helping children one “starfish” at a time.