Arizona: “New” CPS Risk Assessment Tool Called “Antiquated”

Arizona CPS social workers are now using a “new” risk assessment tool that the state spent a lot of money to develop. Apparently the goal of the risk assessment is for investigations to be more thorough and comprehensive.

A sample risk assessment distributed to employees had 81 pages, which astounded CPS social workers who are expected to complete this process each time they do an investigation. It could be that caseworkers will spend more time doing paperwork and less time detaining children.

According to one child welfare expert, the risk assessment tool is based on 20-year-old standards and will do nothing to make children safer. However state officials say the assessment is used in other states and that Arizona CPS staff contributed feedback for development of the project.

From the June 4, 2007 article in the Arizona Daily Star:

Without the changes, “we weren’t able to see how they (investigators) made their decisions,” said Janice Mickens, an administrator with CPS. “We need to have something that guides us throughout this process.”

Risk assessment tools have been used by CPS agencies for years. The “new” Arizona risk assessment is based on a Washington risk assessment developed in 1986, and some experts consider it antiquated. The state of Washington also considers it out of date and is working on developing new methods.

From the article:

The general philosophy behind it and the Arizona model is what is known as a “consensus-based” approach, meaning the case manager assesses risk from a number of areas like the child’s behavior and development, severity of abuse and the qualities of the caretaker, among others.

Such an approach has been criticized in social work academic journals for being subjective, overly broad and using the same variables to predict different types of abuse and neglect.

Using a risk assessment, CPS social workers can detain children based on what might happen, even when nothing has happened. Questions on the risk assessment may include questions such as “are the parents legally married?” and “how many children are in the home?”.

Rep. Jonathan Paton of Tucson said “81 pages seems excessive. I can envision a lot of frustration from workers who have too many cases as it is.” But Mickens, the CPS administrator, said she didn’t think the risk assessment will add much time to the investigation process because social workers are already filling out some of the same forms.

The agency didn’t study the time factor so they don’t know how long it will take Arizona CPS social workers to fill out the form, but they feel this risk assessment is a “critical tool” as it will force CPS caseworkers to “ask the right questions”.

Arizona CPS has been responsible for several recent high-profile deaths of children who had open CPS cases: Tyler Payne, 5; his sister Ariana, 4; and Brandon Williams, 5.

Source: CPS assessment tool raises criticism
Long paperwork said to be thorough, but system is based on 1986 model by Josh Brodesky of the Arizona Daily Star

Filed under: Arizona,CPS,Social Workers,Washington — Linda Martin @ 10:15 am

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I live in Washington State and they seem to be a bit ahead of Arizona CPS, but remember they lost an 8 year long lawsuit by the National Youth Law group, called the Braam Lawsuit” and as part of the settlement they must make changes. So far, they are behind in the timeline of chages they must make.

What I constantly find curious abiout Arizona though, is their actions with checking facts or details.

In my job, I know I would have been expected to time how long to complete the form, evalute if the form needed to be modified and then test it with my co-workers…None of which was done by Janice Mickens. Mickens seem to be so focused on “statistics” that she does not seem to be able to analyze them or make judgements about their applications.

Comment by Kathleen — July 16, 2007 @ 8:47 pm

i am dealing with CPS in arizona now and i have to tell you they have not done anything to help the children i was ask by CPS to care for.i have so much more to say i just want to make sure this is the place to say some of these things.As i do not want to have the childern removed.

Comment by Cynthia — November 9, 2007 @ 4:56 pm

cynthia sounds like you are a foster parent here in az. i am a grandma of two angel boys in foster care. i need help. they dont want me to get them for they are afraid i cant protect them from there own mom. what can i do i dont have money for a lawyer. but i do want to fight for those boys and i want to help others before its too late. please any one help me. sherry

Comment by sherry — December 25, 2007 @ 10:20 am

Cynthia, I took am taking care of 3 children for CPS in AZ. Have you found or being given any help? Where in AZ are you?

Comment by Jeanette — January 4, 2008 @ 9:49 am

I have something to say and I just want to say 1st off I hate C.P.S. in Az cause I have lost 3 of my children 17 yrs ago and C.P.S. told me that I will get them back and I never did they where adpoted out in 1996 and I haven’t seen nor heard from my 3 children since 1993 and I really want to find out who I can contact to find my children my old attorney is not there anymore so if anyone could please help me please let me know as I would like to know how to find my children they are of age now my son is 20yrs old as of May of this yr and my daughter is 18 yrs old as of April this yr and my other daughter is 17 yrs old as of May this yr so please anyone if you can help me please let me know as I want to see my children I have been heart broken for so may yrs and it is time to mend my heart. And as for Susan Eazer the county attorney now in Tucson is still not a nice person she wasn’t back then either. It is a long story I just want to see my children.

Comment by Kimberly — November 30, 2008 @ 10:20 pm

I just had my grandchildern taken away from my and my wife. we had them as safety monitors and we had a meeting in the safford office and they said it was not go from them to be with us. because the daughter was living with us. but in the meeting she said that she will move out so her kids can stay with us. but thay still took them away. and in court wed. 10, 2008 csp said that some this in court records that were wrong untrue. so we told the judge that me and my wife will take drug test and anything else to get the kids back.?

Comment by Arthur Maxwell — December 11, 2008 @ 5:50 am

I just had 4 grandchildren taken away from me and my wife. We were safety monitors. But we had a meeting on wed 03-2008. They took the kids away from us and my daughter. With no reason why. We have raised these kids. Ages 7, 5, 2, 1 olds kids. The state said in court some things about my wife who is untrue and wrong. So we told the judge that we will both take drug test and try to remove what cps case manager Delores Hearst said about my wife. In court we have a court hearing in Dec 18 2008. I have file a complaint to the state which they our looking in to this but how do the get away of saying thing and not supporting the fact. And when we prove them wrong what can we do so this does not happen to anyone else.

Comment by Arthur Maxwell — December 11, 2008 @ 6:20 am

I hope you’re able to get them back Arthur.

Comment by Linda — December 12, 2008 @ 6:02 pm

Will someone help me get my grandaughter back,she was taking from me on jan 22,09 and I have had her since she was a newborn,my daughter is bi-polar,had postpartum depression and still going threw it and she has a severe learning disability and had a hard time understanding on how to take care of her,so I have been watching my beautiful princess and now she is 17 months old and her name is Olivia.CPS took over a year ago because they said my daughter was unfit.So they asked me if I could take care of oli and I said of course I have been since she was a newborn.I did everything they told me to do and then they wanted me to keep her grandfather away and her uncle,whom she loves very much.They said because of false allegations that were about 20 years they did not want oli’s papa around or even on the premises and he was never convicted or put in jail and was cleared and he has evevn had his fingerprints done and was cleared and was staying with his other daughter in safford and she was a des certified day care provider that had sometimes 6 kids a day.Then because my son whom is 21 has a mental illness they wanted him away from the home also.Our heavenly father sent me a holy ghost feeling to let my family come in and be a part, because they have done nothing wrong to hurt oli or anyone.My daughter lost custody and so did oli’s dad because they had nothing to do with oli’s life they were both into drinking,but my daughter would send things to oli and she to was told she could not go to our home that if she wanted to see her it would be threw visitation which was only right.SOMEONE very hateful called cps hotline and told them that my daughter had came around and even lived with us which is a lie and that my son and my ex-husband were living there also,they were not,Oli’s papa would drop off her uncle for the weekend everyother weekend because cps said he was allowed to every other weekend and then oli’s papa would take her other uncle so he could stay with her papa.So last thusday they came uninvited in our home,demanding oli and my son said my mom will be out in a few shes in the bathroom we were barely waking up,she said she did not want me right now she wanted oli so I thought I better hurry and change her and get her out there,so my son took her out to the living room while I was getting dressed and she said give this to your mother and before that she said someone coughed whos in that bathroom which was near my living room and my son told her it was his brother and she said open that bathroom door right now I want to see whos in there and he was scared the way she said so he was opening the door and it was not my son it was oli’s papa going to the bathroom and he was holding the door on the other side but the lady pshed it more open so she could see who was in there and she told my son thats not your brother she said is that oli’s grandfather and my son said yes.She hurried and left with oli her and this other woman and said give this to your mother.He came into the room and gave me a paper and I asked where is olivia and he said they took her,I screamed noooo not my oli and cried and cried.I then called cps up the case manager and asked her why they took her and she said for safety violation and I could not believe it she has been in the best care and with her family that love and I was going to adopt her and I was doing everything cps said except keep the ones she loved and who helped make her babas and walk her and sing to her,we all want oli back she had a backup babysitter and she was a third mommy to olivia and she loved her ver much and the cps said when she called me back,I had asked her what do I need to do to get her back,she said nothing your not getting her back and your not adopting her and you will never see her again that pissed me off,I did something I shouldnt have done but hearing that and being upset I told her she was the biggest bitch I meant in my life.My sister called her and then she called my siister and said the same thing you are not going to see her none of your family will not see her or wont be able to adopt her.Thats not right,we love her we want her in our family none of us has never did nothing to hurt a child or anyone.PLEASE PLEASE HELP US IS THERE SOMEONE OUT THERE THAT WILL HELP US GET OUR OLIVIA BACK OR ANYONE OUT THERE THAT CAN TELL US WHAT WE NEED TO DO.Sincerly Anna from AZ and my e-mail anna_48@live.com P.S I hope your happy whom ever did this cruel thing,to innocent people that loved being together and being happy and watching Oli grow my first grandchild

Comment by Anna — January 31, 2009 @ 2:38 pm

california DCFS allowed a child to be sent to arizona, arizona sent child back and the home study was not done or notice given but child has not returned it has been hell on the mother and the people tricked her into not contesting it by telling her she would not be kept from the child, since they where forcing adoption and said that because of a time line it does not matter that mom is now stable working and had regular contact with children who are now seperated. cold and callus, these former child sexual abusers have filed a restraining order on mom and lied to get it, mom has no record they do and signed a criminal disclosure the adoptive parents both have several abuse claims filed w/ CPS the mom never abused her kids. how do they get to have her kid?

Comment by fred — January 31, 2009 @ 10:59 pm

I feel bad for all of these families and wish the best for you. I have a family member involved with CPS and she is having a hard time with them. I was just told it is going to get worse for everyone. With the state budget and the new gov Brewer cutting back 100 million from DES many services are gone. Her CPS worker told her they are laying off over 100 plus workers and all services to help her get her kids back are gone. I question if they want her to get her life straight to their standards how is she to do this with out any services. I know the workers have a heavy caseload now but with all the cuts will any of the mothers who’s children get taken ever get back to their moms. I hope my relative gets her kids back. Me and my relative come to this site and read the comments as this help with support and gives us insight on how to deal with CPS without our rights being taken away.

Comment by John — February 15, 2009 @ 7:35 pm

My husband has recently discovered that his son, now 15, was physically abused by his step father 4 years ago, he was 11 then. The mother elected not to let my husband know anything about it and even accused the biological father, my husband, of abusing her during their marriage, in the police report.
CPS was called, a report taken, along with pics and video of his son’s bruises, all on his face and legs.
Because the step father reported that the child was acting up this was deemed a form of discipline. My husband has since contacted the County attorney in the “Great State” of Arizona where he was told that the case was too old and that corporal punishment was allowed in the State of Arizona, and therefore, the county attorney would not do anything to this man who is still living with my husband’s 2 children, now 10 and 15 years old. I am now having trouble retrieving the pictures of the abuse from records in the Scottsdale PD because it was a juvenile case, although they have given me the rest of the report.
CPS will not follow up as they say the case is closed and all is well in the houshold. CPS was informed that the children will not speak out against their step father because they are afraid of him.
Can anyone help us make sense of how the state of Az determines when a child is in danger, it appears as though they go completely on physical appearances of the property and the surroundings and not the child’s well being.

Comment by Ct — February 21, 2009 @ 3:18 am

Good news, I think. My husband has been in constant contact with the Detective that was in charge of his son’s case and has obtained all information, including pics! Unfortunately, the pics are difficult to look at and hard to understand why the man who did this to my husband’s son was not arrested at the time. There are some very obvious bruises on the child’s face and neck. We also have audio tapes of the mother and step father’s story. I don’t believe they had one word to say about what the step had done, they did try and discredit the biological father alot.

Comment by Ct — March 7, 2009 @ 2:13 am

My husband and I are foster parents, we’ve been doing this for nearly 5 years. I read these cases and am confused to say the least. Of the 44 placements we have had we have not had one parent say that the allegations against them were untrue. In fact, the kids have a LOT more information than CPS (of course) and it becomes apparently obvious that the parents do need some time to attempt to become appropriate for their children. I am amazed that there is less mentioned about the lives that are saved by the involvement of CPS, CPS is ridiculed for returning children into homes in which they are either pulled from again or the children are killed by their own parents – or they are ridiculed for not returning children to homes that they feel are unsafe. No matter what, CPS is the “bad guy.” From this side…Many times I see that the children go to visits to their birth parents and come home with diahrrea from stress, wetting their beds, extreme behaviors, they cry begging not to have to go to their visit, they will be there for 4 hours and the parents bring a large bag of Cheetos for their many children to share for dinner, the kids remember all the traumas and have issues on a regular basis. These things are also told to CPS and visits are not shortened for the kids’ best interest, the parents have a parent aide assigned but don’t want to be told what to do because they know what’s best for their own kids, and the last on the totem pole is the needs of the children. They’re at times removed from school for visits, even though the parents have not had the kids in school for 2 years and now they are 7 and have the academic skills of a 3 year-old. The system in Arizona is a MESS to say the least! It doesn’t work for the best interest of the children – nor does it work for the birth parents. The birth parents are not given the right information or tools to succeed, but it appears that most of them don’t attempt to really “try” until it is 2 weeks before a court hearing anyways. However, now DES under direction of Jan Brewer has decided to cut most of the funding for the foster children and developmentally disabled in Arizona. It appears that Arizona truly wants to have a reputation for considering their children unworthy of time, effort or finances. However, we will have some new highways in a few years. How pathetic!

Comment by Dyan — March 15, 2009 @ 9:57 am

Dyan, this site is for the falsely accused. Regarding families where parents truly cannot take care of their children, kinship care arrangements should be honored. When there’s no relative who can take care of the child, a foster care agency, separate from CPS, should find a foster home for him.

This site provides information and support for the falsely accused. Parents need to learn strategies for winning in court because their lawyers usually work for the county, not for them, and nobody in the system will give them a clue on what to do. If the parents don’t really care about their kids I’m sure they would never bother to look at a site like this.

Comment by LindaJoMartin — March 15, 2009 @ 10:31 am

Dyan, I came to this web site because I was exposed to how CPS operates through an experience that my biological parents had and many years later and sadly my biological brother had. In neither instance, was there any allegation of abuse. It was something else such as my biological mother arguing with the school principal regarding resources classes over thirty years ago and my younger sister taken away directly from a school. In my brother’s case it was their healthy newborn taken away at birth because they did not look like they could take care of their baby. They were forced into giving up their baby to adoption after having another baby or face the loss of both children. I do come from a poverty stricken background but in both situations; there was no abuse. Nor was there any intentional neglect such as in the case of my mother; she was simply standing up to say that her daughter did not belong in resource classes. Did that warrant her child to be removed from school? Did that warrant that the entire lives of family members to be disrupted because that situation became worse. That situation actually affected me very personally because as a 17 year old I had to take on a role that I never would have predicted. I became a temporary foster parent to my six year old brother; as my father who was so grief stricken he had taken my sister from foster care and of course my mother was thrown in jail for “contempt”. So, who do you think had to be responsible to a six year old child and not to mention myself at 17? Do you think CPS knew about us; I have no clue. I know poverty probably does have a role; but as children we were not abused or intentionally neglected in any way, shape or form.

Comment by gingerroot — March 15, 2009 @ 12:24 pm

Dyan, also in neither instance was there any charge of wrongdoing except for when my father took my sister over thirty years ago and my mother was thrown in jail for “contempt”. She also went on a hunger strike while in jail and started coughing up blood.

Comment by gingerroot — March 15, 2009 @ 12:31 pm

I forgot to add that my mother and father actually raised six children and we love our parents and I do consider my parents American heros for fighting for their right to be parents. I may not always have agreed with my mother; but they did have a right to parent us and ensure our safety.

Comment by gingerroot — March 15, 2009 @ 12:49 pm

Hey Garry let Renee know is still on the list, to try to get out of her promise, when she quit because of the pressure I was putting on her and I don’t think you’ll do any better job with your new job you could not handle your old one, tell bev I said hello.

Comment by aaron shinabery — March 15, 2009 @ 1:01 pm

Also, I want to add that “foster parents” are state funded while biological parents are not! So, in no way, shape or form do I believe it is fair to sit back and criticize biological parents when they receive zero dollars while “foster parents” are government sponsored!

Comment by gingerroot — March 15, 2009 @ 2:46 pm

Even in states where welfare funds are available, the amount given to natural families is much less than what they give (per child) to foster parents. Impoverished natural parents are at a great disadvantage! And then you always hear foster parents clamoring for more. I won’t tell you what I think of that!

Comment by LindaJoMartin — March 15, 2009 @ 4:04 pm

Com

Comment by aaron shinabery — March 15, 2009 @ 4:08 pm

I am a Grandmother who has had custody of my 4yr old Grandson since he was two weeks old. He is the most loving wonderful little boy in the world and we love him dearly. In Dec.08, one week before Christmas CPS was called to my house because a arrogant, mouthy, unprofessional Sheriffs Deputy came to my home looking for someone we did not know and due to a life threatening accident I had in July, I have been unable to work and my husband and I were really having a hard time. Our electric had been turned off and we were in the process of going to my Daughters home until we could get it taken care of. We had a fireplace and a electric cord from our neighbor and our house was warm but it was hard to live in with no electric with a child. We were also given a eviction notice and in the process of moving, plus my Grandson and his Papaw had gone together for the first time to cut a Christmas tree together the day it was shut off and Christmas decorations were everywhere so my house was very messy. This officer felt we knew the person he was looking for and told us that we either tell him where this person was or he would have my Grandson removed from the home because of the electric being off, even tho I told him we were going to my daughters. We could not tell him something we didn’t know so a few minutes later a young girl showed up at our house, didn’t knock, just walked in and her first statement was “at least its warm in here” and took her coat off. She saw a picture of my son, who she did not like, and told the officers that she knew this was all because of drugs because she knew my son so she ask me to take a drug test, of course I said yes, and ask my daughter who was very mad and upset and she said no way was she going to do anything without a court order which led to her being thrown in a cop car by her hair and taken to jail for disorderly conduct. I was numb by this time and when she told me I had failed a drug test I just about passed out. I knew nothing was in my system except for my prescription medications. I was shaking and scared and imbarrassed and worried to death about my Grandbaby and I finally found some of my prescription bottles and because I use a monthly pill planner box because my bottles are so big, she said I was selling pills because they were not all in the bottles. I tried to tell her why and find my purse but she told me to forget it and the officers began talking to us like we were dogs, and low life drug dealers and took my Grandbaby. I wanted to die and I was so shocked I didn’t know what to do. The girl told me my medication would not show up what the drug test did, but if I could get something from the Doctor’s’ office that says different I could come get my Grandson. I called my Doctor and he immediately faxed them a letter saying my narcoleptsy medication that he has had me on for 21 years would “for sure” show a false positive on a drug screen. They came up with they wanted to do a hair follicle test on my Grandbaby which took three more weeks it came back NEGATIVE, I proved the investigator lied under oath in front of the Judge by saying she “knew for a fact that my son had been in prison on three occasions for manufacturing drugs” which I got a copy of his record and there has never been ONE charge of this and he has not been to prison for anything like this. He went to jail once for “Joy Riding” with some boys who were in someone elses truck and they had no permission to have it, and that was 15 years ago. I thought lying under oath was PERJURY but nothing was said to her about it. We have done everything we have been ask to do and more, we have completed parenting classes, had psychological evaluations, drug tests, shown up for every visit, had our home checked and approved, all utilities are on and the only one who keeps wanting to put it off is the attorney for my Grandson who has probably spent 5 minuties with him, because she thinks he is Autistic he should stay where he is until more testing is done. That is crazy. He has been through a living nightmare through this whole deal and so have we. He has never been away from us and she wonders why he didn’t just strike up a conversation like apparently other 4yr olds do. He talks to us. He has been a very happy and stable little boy and many testified how spoiled and well taken care of he was. But it has been since before Christmas and he still is not home. But we are once again promised that he will be and if he isn’t, I am going to dedicate every waking minuite of my life getting something done about this. I will go to all the newspapers and televisions shows, I’ve already contacted the Governor, Senator ,and State Rep. and they are not happy about the whole deal because WE PROVED without a shadow of doubt that we were falsely accused and our visits are now unsupervised, but I’m sorry, that is not good enough. He wants to be home and it breaks all of our hearts when he has to go back to his foster home, even tho they are very nice people who are trying to get him home too because they know that is where he wants and needs to be, so I am thankful for them, but the fact remains, he is still being confused and the people who lied and have drug this our for months should be stopped and I intend to KNOW why they are allowed to get away with doing this to, especially, the innocent little ones. I assure you they won’t get away with it when they stand before God. Something has to be done about the power these incompetent, lying people have, and that includes the deputy. Wrong is wrong and I love my Grand baby to the point I will fight this til I draw my last breath. I WILL have some justice one way or another. I thank God for sites like this because I have gotten alot of help and advise to know where to go and what to do. Even tho he is not home yet. He soon will be and we know where he is and can see him several times a week, but even after he gets home. this fight is FAR from over. NEVER GIVE UP~

Comment by T — March 15, 2009 @ 4:55 pm

By the way, I live in Arkansas and I would also like to know why we were not offered any help when our electric was off. Why were we not offered a place to stay or anything else. The rule book for CPS says workers are to do everything they can, even to the point of emergency funding, to keep a child in the home. Nothing was done to keep our Grandson with us nor was anything done to help us or HIM. They just wanted to show their authority and that should be a crime. Isn’t things like this why our men and women are fighting for and dying for in other countries. Trying to stop families and children from being treated this way???? There are some goodhearted, wonderful workers, I know that for a fact, but these idiots who think they are above the law and the Judges who allow them to get away with it have to be stopped….. They are criminals and they are cruel and we should not be at their mercy. I will fight the rest of my life now that I know first hand what kind of people are running our lives that DO NOT have the right……

Comment by T — March 15, 2009 @ 5:03 pm

Gingeroot is correct. In AZ. a family member gets $75 per month per child under guradianship order. BUT the foster family got $928 per month per child!!!!!

Something wrong there????

Also, my $75 per child per month has notw been “eliminated” per the new Gov Jan Brewer as part of the required budget cuts from DES.

BUT THE FOSTER CARE PYMNT OF $928 HAS BEEN REDUCED 15%, TO $789 PER MONTH.

WHOOPIE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by Cheryl — April 6, 2009 @ 2:58 pm

CPS is screwing me right now. the more people that stand up to them the less they will get away with. CPS makes $30,000.00 per child. After wrongly accusing me and driving me out of Arizona I have to make arrangements 2 weeks in advance (they cannot do visits on the weekend) to see my daughter – [1 occasion] I wanted to visit my daughter with my Aunt- My CPS worker told me it would be too dramatic for my 16 month daughter to see my Aunt (my daughter is around her mother’s family every day) then in the same sentence said she is cutting my phone calls from once a day to once a week for 1 minute because my daughter doesn’t understand anything I say to her. DOES THIS MAKE SENSE OR AM I MISSING SOMETHING ? She even has 2 children herself. Plus she wouldn’t put it in writing. I am still fighting for my daughter in a case that should not even exist. BADFKNBASS at GMAIL.COM is my email. PLEASE – IF YOU CAN – Please help in making all this right. many people/families do not deserve it.

Comment by ANTHONY BREHMER — April 6, 2009 @ 5:20 pm

Anthony, you are not missing anything. CPS lies and falsifies reports. They are even allowed to revise a report and add more lies! You can supply all the evidence proving you are innocent and CPS has lied, but Family Court will overlook it and will not judge in your favor.

My niece has been going through this for two years now. She has never done anything wrong and because CPS cannot prosecute the person responsible, they are persecuting my niece. My niece asked her CPS case manager “Why are they doing this to me?” and her case manager replied (we have this recorded on tape) “Because they want to see somebody paying for this”. Can you believe that?

Here’s the deal with CPS, if you are poor and cannot afford an attorney, then CPS will go after you because you are the weakest link. They care NOTHING about you, your child or children and could care less if you and your child(ren) suffer. It’s all about money to them!

My niece is now having to act as her own attorney when she knows nothing of law, especially the complicated family law. CPS has closed her case and it is now in the hands of Family Court who know nothing of her case except for the lies, corruption CPS has reported as truths.

Whoever is reading this post, PLEASE VISIT MY WEBSITE (it’s a MySpace page) and look for my blog on ‘CPS and Family Court Reform’ and sign the petition! It’s better to get real signatures, but if we can get thousands of people to sign the online petition, it may help. ALSO……

Read “Did you write to President Obama yet?” and “Are you a member of No More Family InJustice Yet?” Go to the home page of this site and scroll down until you reach these two posts then write to the President and/or Mrs. Obama! Do not waste time, this may be our only hope to take CPS and Family Court down to where they should be.

We have to act united and as one voice or nothing will happen. Spread the word, get as many people involved as possible. Plaster those letters (postings) anywhere you are allowed to.

Good luck to all. I will keep everyone on this site in my prayers. Let’s work together and become one voice united!

p.s. Please feel free to leave a comment or message on my MySpace page. It is under construction.

Comment by Aunt Dee-Dee — May 18, 2009 @ 10:26 pm

I just want help to not lose my daughter. oh god please help me.

Comment by Karen — August 6, 2009 @ 3:09 pm

IF CPS IN PHOENIX ARIZONA violated procedure, what can I do to fight them and how long do I have to do it?Social worker gave 3 years of welfare money to mother who named the wrong dad as father,who even proved he wasnt the dad in the state that child was born.When welfare found the real dad,they had already started adoption procedings. and just kept doing so. The child is on its 3rd foster home.The grandparents were not contacted worker stated couldnt be identifyed,even though, the mothers dad and step mom had in the past been given some kind of custody of all 3 children.in past in california.Im the grandmother and was in heaven to findout I had a darling grandaughter.Three of my grandaughters died before birth,one induced by cps in califonia,after which the mother killed herself,and my son had a nervous breakdown.then welfare in az. told him he had a daughter. five yrs old.

Comment by delfy — March 27, 2011 @ 10:02 pm

I have also dealt with CPS since september trying to get my babies back! I know what you r saying is true . they don’t do anything to try to keep the children in the home! It is such a joke the judge actually signed the paper stated in home services were tryed . this consisted of UAs and a hair follicle that is what they did to keep my children in the home !

Comment by sheri AZ — June 29, 2011 @ 11:51 pm

I now need help with filing a complaint and request for services from the ACLU. I need help to express myself properly. I also need to know which thing would be the best chance of changing things for others who get sucked into the system. could not following federal mandate in the removal violate my civil rights?

Comment by sheri AZ — June 29, 2011 @ 11:57 pm

Sheri, yes, your civil and constitutional rights have been violated. Good luck trying to get help from the ACLU. Many have tried it and failed. Please join our message board for feedback on your case!

Comment by Linda Martin — June 30, 2011 @ 9:01 pm

Oh look! An AZ lawyer just listed himself on our lawyers page:
http://fightcps.com/2007/08/10/lawyers-who-take-cps-defense-cases/comment-page-7/#comment-239686

He posted right after you did, Sheri. Maybe it is synchronicity and you are supposed to call him! Wouldn’t hurt, I hope!

Comment by Linda Martin — June 30, 2011 @ 9:02 pm

I know of a case kids keep being taken from thier mother one case after another not even letting the mother prove she is able to care for her child Az , Pima county CPS seen to over use their power they did not ever try in home service they seem to just collect child was told about a 40% chance of home placement

Comment by Liz — June 30, 2011 @ 11:03 pm

hi i have been reading alot of these post.I myself have had cps in my life. but unlike alot of these post i have to say they open my eyes. i have 3 children, 2 boys and a girl. me and my husband was married for 10 yrs when they knocked on my door. we both failed a drug test and the house was a mess. they placed my kids and us in my mother-in-law house gave us time to clean ourselves up and the house. which i did do however the father did not. in order to keep my children i had to make a choice the children or him i of course picked the the children now i have full custody of all 3 children and he can only see them 4hrs a week supervised. so i for one am happy that they step up and did what they did if not i might still be on drugs and not keeping house like i should. me and the children could not be happier now that i am there for them like i should be. we as parents might think that we are doing what is best for our children at times like i did intill someone opens your eyes and show you that u could be a better parent. cps is not out to hurt you but out for the children to be in a safe and happy home. they want them to get the love and care they so deserve. remember they did not ask to be brought in to this world that was our choice to do so. yes i loved my ex-husband but i loved my children alot more. i can always find another man but i could never replace my children. there is some reason that they are not giving your children back to you.i did everything they asked of me and never complained about it. i knew i was in the wrong and was women enough to admit it. sounds to me like you all should be thankful and do what they want you all to do so u can get your children back. remember they are out for the children not the adults. we as adults got to be able to provide shelter,lights,heat,food,clothes, and the most important love and understanding.cps only takes a child when they think or feel that the child is being mistreated one way or another. i know alot of you will not feel the way i do but i had cps in my life from 08 till 09 one year and now thanks to them i have a better realtionship with my children and a better outlook on my life i have not touched any type of drug since 08 the day the step in my life and have no thoughts about going back to them. i am sorry if i hurt peoples feelings but you should know that there are some states that do care for the child(ren) . a very thankful SC woman. wish you all the best and hope that you all do get your love ones back.it is not a easy road but it can be done just do what they want you to do.

Comment by jacks — July 1, 2011 @ 12:17 pm

DEAR LINDA< I FOUND OUT THAT IN ARIZONA< WHERE MY GRANDCHILD WAS TAKEN CHILD MY BE ADOPTED OUT> BUT I MAY KNOW WHO. IS THERE A WAY THAT I CAN FILE SOMEYHING TO FIGHT CPS FOR WHAT THEY DID? WHICH IS NEVER GIVE GRANDPARENT CHANCE TO BE WITH CHILD>SOME WOMEN IN NEW YORK SAID THEY WOULD FILE A FEDERAL LAW SUIT FOR 1000$. I TRYED SAVING FOR YEAR< BUT GOT CAR WRONGFULLY TOWED AND TOOK 300 TO GET BACK.PLEASE COMMENT TO ME.

Comment by deb gabe — July 3, 2011 @ 11:34 am

Deb, I’m not a lawyer. You would have to ask a lawyer to take a look at your case and give an opinion on whether there’s anything else that could be done.

Comment by Linda Martin — July 5, 2011 @ 4:06 pm

My ex husband called CPS on me and my fiance. They came out, assured me that they didn’t see this accusation going anywhere and it was obviously a stab from my ex over my upcoming marriage. My ex has the kids for the rest of the summer, so she went to his house to talk with him and the kids. This was 3 weeks ago. Shouldn’t I have heard back from her or something? I do not have a phone number and when I try to look them up I only get a website. I am in Phoenix, Az. Can someone help me with that? I am trying to reach A. Dohring and find out what the end results are. Thank you!

Comment by Erika — July 19, 2011 @ 8:27 am

Erika, if you don’t hear from them, that is GOOD news. Most CPS workers won’t tell you when a case is dropped. Continuing to call them only serves to remind them that you’re alive. Much better to be quiet and hope they go away forever. They won’t tell you anything about your ex or his home anyhow.

Comment by Linda Martin — July 19, 2011 @ 8:55 pm

jacks, I commend you for admitting you were making wrong choices and I am happy that you have gotten your life straight for yourself and your kids. However, I have been dealing with Pima County CPS since 2008 and my husband and I have complied with their “service plan” to the best of our ability. And, this is a brief outline of what happened: after getting him back after 10 months of pure hell, we had him home for 6 months and were assigned a new caseworker who decided he didn’t like the decision the old case worker had made and came and removed him again, then claimed we tested positive on a hair test (have test results and compliance reports with conflicting results) to postpone in-home services after an intake had already been done, then every 3 or 4 months when we would start pushing the issue of moving making progress would claim one of us (usually my husband) tested positive on a UA (we both passed another hair test), then we were both involved in a motorcycle wreck in Aug. and my husband’s injuries required a total of 6 surgeries and 4 months before he was able to walk without crutches. The week we were supposed to start unsupervised visits caseworker prints out drug test results dating 3 months back and claims I was testing positive all that time (although nothing was brought up until then and all the results have never been confirmed) at the same time he went from using crutches to using a cane I ended up in the hospital on life support for a month due to pnuemonia which caused a lung to collapse, it was while I was dying in the hospital that our 2nd caseworker “resigned” (we were also told another caseworker had been fired for disclosing unconfirmed test results around this same time) 3rd case worker informs my husband that they were filing for severance (I am still on life support), 3rd case worker quits unexpectedly, 4th caseworker spoke to us one time, and through out all of this our visits were being done at our home and when we moved to a new house noone ever came to do a home visit, the visits were simply moved to the new address, now our rights were just severed despite all 4 caseworkers were caught lying under oath, and 3 of them had never even obdserved us interacting with our son or taken the time to thoroughly read the visitation reports, Now they refuse to place him with my mother who has been involved since hiss birth as much as possible since she lives in Texas. So, yes there are those families who really need CPS intervention and benefit from it. But there are so many more who are destroyed by them, we received a settlement from the accident we were in and most of what we received has went toward hiring an attorney to represent my mom in a custody fight. now they are claiming she did not get involved soon enough and she only claims she has been there since birth. She has even passed the home study CPS asked Texas CPS to do on her and they still refuse to give him to her. And, remember all this has been on the grounds of the risk of neglect. Not that he has been neglected but that he might be.

Comment by Carolyn — September 4, 2011 @ 10:17 pm

grandkids were removed Fri evening because of my niece being vindictive(hv proof on paper).cps did not tell me why or who determined the removal,jst that my house was no longer safe.I thght it was innocent til proven guilty!!! Plz help..anyone!!

Comment by Deneen — April 24, 2012 @ 1:50 pm

Arizona: “New” CPS Risk Assessment Tool Called “Antiquated”

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