“Have you ever wondered what you would do if CPS showed up at your door? This happened to our family a little over a year ago and today I’m telling our story.” In her recent podcast episode, Durenda Wilson, homeschool mom and author of The Unhurried Homeschooler and The Four Hour School Day, recounts her […]
Category: news
When can CPS come in my home?
When a CPS social worker knocks on your door, they normally intend to do more than just stand on your front porch. In addition to typically wanting to interview your children, they also normally want to inspect your home. They may make you feel like you have no choice but to let them in, but […]
Member Story: CPS came, then the police.
One evening, Eric and Ashley Mackenzie* were getting ready to put their three children to bed when they unexpectedly heard a knock on the door. Eric answered the door, and was shocked at what he heard. “I’m from the Department of Social Services, and we’ve received a report of neglect of your children.” The CPS […]
Mandatory Reporting Laws
She doubted the parents were neglectful, but failing to report suspected child abuse or neglect was a crime. So to play it safe, she reported the family anyway, knowing her identity would never be disclosed. This all too common vignette is the origin of many unnecessary CPS investigations. Child abuse is a serious problem, but […]
Member Story: We ended up in court
After the Lavons’ church preached a sermon about child training, some embittered ex-members of the church heard about it. They then twisted it out of context and accused the Lavons and numerous other families in the church of excessive corporal discipline. To defend the Lavons, Heritage Defense fought the system all the way to court. […]
Newborn blood spot retention and parental rights
After collecting blood spots for newborn screening, the dried blood spot (DBS) specimens are sent to a designated state laboratory for testing. These blood samples in state possession include newborns’ DNA. States have different laws governing parental rights to restrict DBS use. In some states, parents may completely restrict DBS use and request its destruction. […]
Child “blows up” Santa. CPS investigates.
“Santa is dead,” 6-year-old Noah Kemp* announced grimly. The other young children at tumbling class looked at him in surprise. This was not a very merry sentiment. “No, he’s not!” someone piped up. “Yes, he is!” Noah shot back, “He came down the chimney, so I blew him up.” A few little boys seemed impressed, […]
Newborn CCHD Screening and Parental Rights
What is CCHD screening? The least invasive standard newborn screening is testing for CCHD via pulse oximetry. CCHD stands for critical congenital heart defects, a broad term encompassing a variety of inherited heart conditions. Pulse oximetry is a simple device which measures blood oxygen levels by shining a light through a baby’s hand or foot. […]
Newborn Hearing Screenings and Parental Rights
Why is a hearing screening often required at birth? One screening often required for newborns is a screening for risk for hearing loss. The hearing screening is a process involving earbuds or headphones connected to sensors playing soft sounds in a newborn’s ears. The sensors measure the baby’s response to determine whether there is potential […]
Newborn Blood Spot Screening and Parental Rights
Do I have to let the state health department have a sample of my baby’s blood? As if labor, delivery, and postpartum recovery were not enough to deal with upon a newborn’s arrival, there are also postnatal laws and regulations parents will encounter. One of these is the required newborn screening (NBS) process, which can […]