Many families feel they have been wronged by CPS- and no doubt, there are many that have been. The problem is that many laws and policies that govern CPS are extremely vague, which leads to many instances of: technically, it can be interpreted legal. This brings to mind a cliché as old as time: just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. When the standard is ‘as long as it’s technically legal, I’m taking action,’ the values underpinning society fall apart.
Often, when this happens, there’s a strong motivation to bring it to the attention of as many like-minded people as possible. After all, the more people outraged by your situation, the more pressure that can be applied to address it, right? Well…sometimes. Other times, you can end up shooting yourself in the foot or making a bad situation worse. Making your situation worse definitely isn’t helpful. In fact, it’ll only increase the distance between you and your goal.
If you believe you’ve been wronged by the child welfare system, you’re probably right- the child welfare system is rife with problems. To say it is far from perfect is an understatement. Before going to the media, there are a few considerations you should take:
- Is the wrong I believe CPS committed a moral wrong or a legal wrong?
There is a difference between a moral wrong and a legal wrong. A moral wrong is based on values. It’s something one shouldn’t do, if we’re to believe they’re a good person. However, morals are subjective, may vary from person to person and your morals may or may not be codified in law or policy. A legal wrong is one in which you can demonstrate with hard evidence that what CPS has done is in direct violation of their own policy or law. There are potential opportunities for recourse for legal violations, but not for moral ones.
- What hard evidence (legal documentation, notes, e-mails, text messages, audio recordings, video recordings, etc.) do I have to support my belief?
Hearsay is not going to be enough to get people to pay attention to your case. You don’t have to look for for a really sad story and that’s not enough to get the media’s attention or make turning your life’s woes into a reality TV drama worthwhile. You need hard evidence to show you’re not just trying to get attention. In this sense, you’re guilty until you can produce strong evidence of your innocence. This is why you need legal documentation, notes, e-mails, text messages, audio recordings, video recordings and other similar types of evidence. Neither the media, nor the general public will take you at your word.
- Is going to the media more likely to hurt my case (or other aspects of my life) than help?
If your case has just started and you’re upset that it’s been opened, going to the media might not be necessary. If you haven’t had the time to actually identify the legal wrong, you’re not likely to be taken seriously. Also, if unsubstantiated, the case might go away fairly quickly. If reunification is occurring, this is not the time to bash CPS or the court. Wait until they’re no longer involved. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take CPS involvement seriously. If CPS is involved, scheduled an UrgentAssist call immediately and don’t face CPS alone!
- Is my case fit for media consumption?
The media is more attracted to cases that get it more viewers. If your case isn’t marketable or you’re not a good fit for the spotlight, the media is less likely to take an interest in your case. They’re less likely to take false allegations of sexual abuse cases, for example, as they may not resonate with audiences. Make sure it’s easy for the audience to see the legal wrong and consider whether making the case public could hurt you, your child or other stakeholders.
If you’re interested in getting your case media traction, podcasts are great place to start sharing your story. They’re always looking for new guests and many have strong followings. If you know someone in media, you can pitch your story to them. People who work in publicity, journalism, and media production make great contacts. Before going on, make sure you are careful what you share and who you share it with. You don’t want to share your entire life story and you also don’t want to make your situation worse. You don’t necessarily know how a story will be published or how an interview will look once it’s broadcasted. Since not everyone is honest, it’s important to keep this in mind.
Most importantly, always check with someone else before going to the media with your case. Ideally, schedule an UrgentAssist Call or send an UrgentAssist Message to receive advice from one of our expert child welfare consultants. As former CPS investigators, they can look at your specific situation and help you make the best decision for yourself and your family.