Posts Tagged: Surveillance

The Problems with “The Tool We Have”

November 19, 2020 by

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Throughout our 2019 series Surveillance Isn’t Safety, Rise described how over-reporting, investigations and monitoring by child protective services (CPS) harm families and weaken communities impacted by systemic racism and under-investment. Struggling families face investigations by punitive child welfare agencies with the power to take their children — but not the ability to address societal inequities at the root of so many family challenges.

Here, Kelley Fong explains her research finding that often professionals make reports to CPS to “rehabilitate” families. In most cases, the children are not in danger, but mandated reporters turn to CPS to provide resources or to pressure families to behave in ways they feel are appropriate. She also discusses research about better ways to support families without coercion and threat.

Reports are Down Overall, But Schools are Making False and Malicious Educational Neglect Reports

June 17, 2020 by

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Due to COVID-19, children currently are not physically attending school or programs staffed by mandated reporters of suspected child abuse and neglect. Reports to child protective services have decreased significantly. Some quickly jumped to the conclusion that abuse and neglect may be going undetected and unreported.

However, parents and advocates provide another perspective and explain that the drop in calls is not necessarily the problem the media assumes. In fact, 90% of school personnel hotline calls turn out not be abuse or neglect.

Rise Recommendations to Address Schools’ Over-Reporting to Child Protective Services

March 02, 2020 by

The Rise series Surveillance Isn’t Safety began with a focus on schools because NYC schools call in 26% of NYC reports to the state child abuse and neglect hotline. Parents have described the harm caused to their families when schools did not support them, but then reported them. 

Here, Rise highlights steps that the Department of Education (DOE) and individual schools, as well as our city and state child welfare agencies, ACS and OFCS, and others can take to better support families and reduce unnecessary reports.

Series: Surveillance Isn’t Safety

March 02, 2020 by

Introduction: Surveillance Isn’t SafetyHow Over-Reporting and CPS Monitoring Stress Families and Weaken CommunitiesSeries edited by Rachel Blustain, Rise Contributing Editor

When Schools Over-ReportSeries edited by Rachel Blustain, Rise Contributing Editor

Personal Essays

No Escape: The system failed me as a child but now it won’t leave me alone.by Sarah Harris

The System Allowed My Ex to Use Investigations as a Weapon Against Meby Lou H

A Punishment Worse than the Crime: I was charged with abuse but my kids were … Read More

New Research: How Fear of CPS Harms Families

January 22, 2020 by

Interview with Kelley Fong, PhD candidate in Sociology and Social Policy at Harvard University, Author of “Concealment and Constraint: Child Protective Services Fears and Poor Mothers’ Institutional Engagement”.

By Keyna Franklin, Rise Parent Leader, and Careena Farmer, Rise Contributor

Throughout our series on surveillance, Rise has exposed how child welfare surveillance harms families and communities, particularly low-income communities and communities of color. Far too often, when families are struggling, the response they are met with is a … Read More

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