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This is a summary I wrote up about how a case works. For the exact laws and rules/procedures, read the Guidelines on the TDPRS website (for Texas) or the guidelines for your specific state which should be available for your information at your state's Health and Human Services website. The following is simply a summary outlining generally the way a case works, specifics may differ from state to state. I am not an attorney and this is not to be construed as legal advice to follow in your specific case, for assistance with a specific case, contact an attorney licensed to practice law in your area who can assist you.

The truth is, child protective services, and our social services system is highly flawed. Its a true catch 22. We need the system for the children who are truly abused, but, in many cases, like my own, the system abused the child. (Its Almost Tuesday and other articles i've written describe the abuse my son endured in foster care.)

The only way to help families, is to spread awareness.

This is how a cps case works.

When a call or report of abuse/neglect comes in, it is called a referral; and is assigned a certain priority level. Depending on the level of priority it is assigned. The allegation and amount of imminent danger the child may be in determines the level of priority.

A REFERRAL IS THE REPORT OF AN ALLEGATION of ABUSE and/or NEGLECT.

A REFERRAL DOES NOT MEAN THE ALLEGATION IS TRUE.

To the contrary, only about 25% of allegations are substantiated, which means approximately 3 out of 4 reports that come in are false or unsubstantiated allegations of abuse and/or neglect.
Anyone can call in a referral on anyone else.
It can even be done anonymously.
It is common to have referrals come in that are based on misinformation, misunderstandings, or reported with malice, spiteful intent, and based on lies and deceit.

Of course, there are good faith reports that are made when someone truly believes a child is being abused or neglected. Those are the reports that are supposed to be called in. Often times couples in custody battles call in referrals and make allegations. These are spite referrals which are the most damaging to the children. Every referral must be assigned a priority and looked into, to determine whether or not further investigation is needed.
An investigator is assigned, and he case is looked at by the investigator in the following (usually six weeks) period of time. Sometimes the children remain in the home, other times they are removed.

During that

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