Family Protective Services

[KeeperOfTheIceRN]

What has been your experience with reporting to family protective services? I made my first report at the end of last week and received the response that there wasn't anything for them to investigate at this time shortly after submitting it. 2 other co-workers also reported to them for the same child regarding the same situation. Fast forward to today when I receive a call from the parent stating they had been visited by CPS the other day and their reasoning was because the child had visited the nurse's office multiple times recently for one specific reason, of which, was not a reason any of us reported for. Parent now wants a copy of the child's visits to the clinic.

Here are my questions:

1) is it normal for them to say there is nothing to investigate only to turn around and visit the home less than a week after the report was made?

2) is it customary for them to use a false reason for the investigation?

3) is it possible a different person, unrelated to the school and the situation in which we are aware of, reported the same child and it just happened to be investigated after we reported?

I'm sorry if this is so vague as I don't want to reveal too much info but I'm still really confused on how this has played out. I simply have nothing to compare it to.

Thanks for your help!

[Cattz, ADN]

I know the script nearly as well as the Hotline workers that I have talked to as well. I have made up a form that covers pretty much all they ask. I still fill it out so I make sure I have all the information before I make the call. I have had a lot of teachers that have asked for it, as it helped calm some of their fears of making those first few calls. I am going to attach it here. It is for Missouri calls, so feel free to adapt it to your state if it would be helpful.

Happy Happy Tuesday Friends!

:)

HOTLINE REPORT FORM.docx

[nursekoll, BSN, RN]

Both times I have ever reported to CPS for suspected abuse the families abruptly moved out of the district in the days following the call. I'm not sure if it was the initial investigation or maybe they got wind of an investigation and they just up and moved. Sad, and I have no idea how either one turned out. No follow-up calls to me, anyways. My school's policy is to inform administration of any reports made, so maybe CPS contacted administration, but I had not heard anything after either report.

I don't think CPS can disclose the source of the report. I do think it takes several or immediate danger for them to investigate promptly.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

How long has he been working in this role? The people I know who were good caseworkers end up getting burned out after about a year or two.

Turnover within these departments is probably close to 100% over the course of a year. I have been at my job for 9 months and literally have more than 1 patient who has had 3 case workers in that 9 month period.

[pedi_nurse]

Turnover within these departments is probably close to 100% over the course of a year. I have been at my job for 9 months and literally have more than 1 patient who has had 3 case workers in that 9 month period.

That's what I thought.

[mslove717]

whenever i had reported, CPS sends me a letter that they investigated and basically - they did nothing. Our county has been under the microscope because of how understaffed they are, workers have like 4x the amt of reccomended cases. So they definately let a lot of things "slide"

[Amethya]

How long has he been working in this role? The people I know who were good caseworkers end up getting burned out after about a year or two.

I think he said he was HPD for 28 years and Was working for CPS for 13 years. You would think too right? But he's actually very nice and professional.

[beachynurse, ASN, BSN]

In our state CPS reporting is anonymous. When we call, and thankfully I don't have to call very often, I usually make the call jointly with a guidance counselor. We actually have a script that we recite if a parent comes back to the school angry, which they usually do, "the CPS reporting process is anonymous and we are not permitted to discuss it. if you have any questions I must refer you back to the case worker that made contact with you". Let them handle it. Unfortunately, they usually do know it's the school, but if we don't discuss it, the anger kind of dissapates a bit quicker.