Are you "ready" for "The Challenge" by @markwhittam? I am, at least ready to at least put on my thinking cap, tap into my own personal experiences in working with the court system in the USA and give as much input as I can as to how I think communities can help these families and above all "Help these kids!"
Read @markwhittammost recent post Here:
Stand Up And Be Heard!
I have decided to set a challenge to the @familyprotection community, I want to hear your best solution to this problem. How do we build a network of people who are willing, ready, and equipped with the knowledge and power to peacefully fend off any attack or knock at the door from the dreaded CPS!
Think outside the box, because Lawyers and family courts are a losing battle and we all know it!
Lets stop trying to win at their game!
By @markwhittam
[Fight Fire With Fire! Then We All Get Burnt!........................Again!]
(https://steemit.com/familyprotection/@markwhittam/fight-fire-with-fire-then-we-all-get-burnt-again)
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First I would like to take a look at the original purpose of the child protection services:
Child Protective Services (CPS) is the name of a governmental agency in many states of the United States responsible for providing child protection, which includes responding to reports of child abuse or neglect. ... CPS is also known by the name of "Department of Social Services" (DSS) or simply "Social Services."
Child Protective Services - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_Protective_Services
In reading the above, I see one key sentence that very community should pay close attention to as this appears to be a key factor in getting CPS involvement in the majority of cases:
"responding to reports of child abuse or neglect. .."
What kind of neighbor are you? What is your first response when you hear or see what you consider child abuse or neglect of children in your community? Do you call the cops, do you call CPS or do you step up to see how you can assist this family? Most CPS reports are initiated with that first phone call to the authority's reporting issue that might have been resolved had a caring neighbor took the time to assist these families. In some cases where there is definite domestic violence, drug or alcohol abuse, weapons involved, we may have to call the authorities versus stepping in for our own safety, but in a lot of cases there is usually a deeper issue going on.
What is the role of a Child Protective Services worker?
Child Protective Services (CPS) promotes the safety and well-being of children through intervention in reported child abuse cases. The goal of CPS is to keep children in their homes when it is deemed safe, and to provide them with a safe environment when they are determined to be at risk.
Understanding the Role of Child Protective Services
by www.socialworkdegreecenter.com
Again, another "Key" sentence:
"promotes the safety and well-being of children through intervention in reported child abuse cases. "
Back to "reported cases." why can't we as a community start our own "intervention" programs promoting the safety and well-being of children through intervention? Let's build stronger community centers where families can come and get the support and intervention before it reaches the stages.
Let's build youth centers where the children can have a "safe" place to go while the parents are at work and a place they can also interact with others. Provide them with resources that educate, empower and entertain them.
Let's staff these centers with loving, caring and skilled adults and youth.
Basically what it boils down to goes back to the old saying: "It takes a whole village to raise a child." Take the first step by taking a walk around the neighborhood and get to know both the kids and the parents in your own neighborhood. One smile and a "kind word" goes a long way.
African Children's Choir - "It Takes a Whole Village to Raise a Child"
briquelleybelly
Published on Jun 24, 2011
The African Children's Choir performing "It Takes a Whole Village to Raise a Child" at Evangel in Louisville, KY. My camera died in the middle of this, but they performed for about 45 minutes.
"The African Children's Choir™ is the ambassador for Africa's neediest, most vulnerable children.
The Choir shows the world that its members, like the millions of abandoned and traumatised children in Africa, have beauty, dignity and unlimited potential.
(Source: africanchildrenschoir.com)
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Are you ready for "The Challenge?"
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MAHALO FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!