Can I call cps for parental alienation? There is a lot of confusion about what to do when dealing with parental alienation. Yes, you can call cps (Child Protective Services). If you have concrete evidence of abuse, then, by all means, call cps. But if you’re simply dealing with a case of parental alienation, calling cps will not help. It may even make things worse.
Many people wonder if they should call CPS or the police and the consequences of doing so. In this post, I will explore why you should not call CPS in cases of parental alienation.
How do CPS works?
Before discussing why you shouldn’t call CPS, it’s important to understand how they work. Child Protective Services is a government agency investigating child abuse and neglect reports. CPS workers are trained to look for signs of abuse and neglect, and they have the power to remove children from their homes if they believe the children are in danger.
If you call the CPS for any child abuse or safety issues, their workers will come to your house to investigate. If they believe the child is in danger, they will remove the child from home and place them in foster care. The CPS will also work with the police to investigate any allegations of abuse or neglect.
Even if the child is in school, they may remove the child from there without informing the parents. They file a report, and a case is opened in court. But you might wait for weeks or months for a decision from the court.
In some cases, the CPS may not even investigate your allegations if they don’t believe them credible. You might need to wait months to return the child to the home.
CPS may design a parenting plan for parents if they deem it necessary; however, if the parents do not follow through with the plan, CPS will penalize them. Unfortunately for parents, CPS has the authority to change the parenting plan as they see fit, and it can be both frustrating and costly to keep up with.
Can I Call CPS for Parental Alienation? 5 Reasons Why Shouldn’t
#1. You may lose child custody if you can’t prove the allegation:
If you call CPS claiming that the other child’s parent alienates your child, you need to prove that in court. But it is not easy to do that. Parental alienation is often hard to prove because it’s based on the child’s feelings and perceptions.
If you can’t prove your allegation, you may lose custody of your child. The other parent could get full or even sole custody, depending on the severity of the parental alienation.
CPS is not a court, and it cannot make custody decisions. They can only investigate allegations of abuse or neglect. If you’re thinking about calling CPS, speak with an attorney first. An attorney can help you understand the risks of making a false report to CPS.
#2. child may be removed from the home:
If CPS believes the child is in danger, they will remove the child from home and place them in foster care. This is one of the most serious consequences of calling CPS.
When a child is removed from their home, it can be a traumatic experience. The child may feel abandoned, confused, and scared. They may also have a hard time adjusting to their new environment.
The process of investigation of CPS is much more intrusive than many people realise. The CPS workers will come to your house and speak with you and your family. They will also talk to the child’s teachers, doctors, and other caretakers.
The investigation can be very stressful for everyone involved. If the CPS decides to remove the child from home, it can be a devastating experience for the family.
CPS is not a quick or easy process. The investigation can take weeks or even months. You might not get a decision from the court for months. This can be frustrating and costly. After following all the legal, it may take months or even years to get the child back, during which time the child will be in foster care.
So, think carefully before you decide to call CPS. It’s important to understand the risks involved. When in doubt, speak with an attorney to help you understand your legal rights and options.
#3. CPS workers may abuse your child:
CPS workers have a lot of power. They can make decisions that will affect your child’s life. Unfortunately, some CPS workers abuse their power.
There have been reports of CPS workers removing children from homes without cause. In some cases, the CPS has even placed children in foster homes where they were abused.
CPS workers have also been known to ignore reports of abuse. In one case, a CPS worker was fired after it was revealed that she had ignored reports of abuse for years. The CPS is not perfect. There are some bad apples in the system. If you’re considering calling CPS, be aware of the risks involved.
There are many records of that CPS does more harm than good. In some cases, the agency has even been known to cover up abuse.
One study found that CPS agencies caused nearly 25% of all child maltreatment fatalities. These findings are alarming. If you’re thinking about calling CPS, be sure to weigh the risks and benefits carefully. You may decide that it’s not worth the risk.
Lisa Osborne, a social worker, expressed her own experienced on how individual workers at Child Protective Services can be mentally abusive to parents and children. You may read another pathetic story of Jauna Beeks, whose 8-year-old grandson was mentally abused by the CPS workers.
#4. You can’t change your mind after the involvement of CPS:
Once you’ve involved CPS in your family’s life, you can’t change your mind. The investigation will continue even if you decide that you don’t want to pursue it.
CPS workers are required by law to investigate all reports of abuse and neglect. They will not stop the investigation just because you’ve changed your mind. They will destroy your, your ex and your child’s life, even if there was no abuse or neglect.
So, think carefully before you decide to call CPS. There are so many alternative solutions to prevent parental alienation. Before calling CPS, you should apply these.
Alternatives of CPS to protect child abuse:
First, try to discuss the issue with your ex directly. If possible, attach the other reliable family members to this discussion. If this doesn’t work, you can take a counsellor’s help to mediate between you and your ex.
If there is any risk of physical abuse of your child, go to family court and file for a restraining order. This will protect your child from being physically harmed by your ex. If there is any custody order, you may file to modify that and ask for an emergency custody order in your favour.
If you can prove the risk in court and if the court finds it true, the child will be removed from your ex’s home and placed in your custody. The burden of proof is high in these cases, so you should take an experienced attorney’s help with this process.
How to handle a Child Protective Services visit in under 4 minutes? Watch the below video to know the details:
FAQs on Can I Call CPS for Parental Alienation
Besides CPS, who else protects our children from abuse?
Law enforcement, judges and all the other people who are supposed to be helping these children, but the sad reality is that they often do more harm than good.
Often police deny help without a court order. Then only take action if there is any serious and emergency endanger situation. The best alternative to CPS is the family court. The process may some lengthy just like the divorce process but more flexible than the CPS.
How can I tell if my child is being abused by CPS?
There are many signs that your child may be being abused by CPS. These include sudden changes in behaviour, nightmares, fear of certain people or places, becoming withdrawn or overly compliant, and physical injuries. If you notice any of these signs, it’s important to take action immediately.
How do you communicate with an alienating parent?
It can be difficult to communicate with an alienating parent, but it’s important to try. You may consider using a mediator or counsellor to help facilitate communication. You should also try the other available family members.
What happens if you lie to CPS about the other parent?
If you lie to CPS about the other parent, your child could be in danger. The other parent may be able to use this against you in court. Even you may lose custody of your child for making false allegations against your ex.
Is parental alienation considered abuse?
Yes, parental alienation is considered abuse. It can seriously impact your child’s emotional and mental health. In official term, this can be described as the mental abuse of the child.
What is the role of CPS in child custody?
CPS does not have a role in child custody. However, if CPS finds that abuse or neglect occurs in the home, they may remove the child from home and place them in protective custody. This could impact the outcome of a custody case.
Conclusion:
So, these all from me to answer Can I call cps for parental alienation? I hope this will be helpful to you and clear all your doubts about it. Now it’s time to decide whether you want to call CPS or not.
But before that, try to solve the issue without legal action. And if there is any risk of physical abuse of your child, then immediately go for an emergency custody order from the court. This will be the best decision in such a critical situation.