This is a very interesting article for a number of reasons. The full title is: "First, do no harm: The unintended consequences of believing a child’s false allegations of abuse and neglect," but it is written more as a warning for parents and caregivers caught up in the horrible situation of being falsely accused of abuse or a neglect by a child that they love. There really doesn't seem to be much of a critique of what you might think would be the target of such an article, so titled..i.e. the agency that should "do no harm," but routinely does horrific harm to children and families.
Here is the link:
Here is an excerpt:
"Some children falsely accuse innocent adults of neglect and abuse. Children with complex developmental trauma disorder (DTD)—a result of early trauma typically due to abuse and neglect from their biological parents—push caring adults away out of a survival instinct. Some do so through false allegations..."
Let's stop right there. "DTD," in my estimation, is another one of those laughable psychology/psychiatry industry cutesy acronyms that really is pretty meaningless, but that might line up well with some new psychotropic drug some pharma company wants to push. Defining it is as they have..."due to abuse and neglect from their biological parents" is a huge "tell" that there is no real "there" there. So, you mean to tell me if kids are traumatized by so-called "Child Protective" "Services" (CPS) while in a captivity that they can't have "DTD," but only if we blame it on parents?
(Image courtesy of fightchildprotectiveservices.com.)
Okay that's just the first troublesome part of this article and the situation they describe. As laughable as the psychology/psychiatry industry has become, we can not over-state the enormous power these people have, especially when aligned with an unaccountable, anti-family government bureaucracy with its own courts and police powers. If one of these Freudian mind benders declares in court that a child has DTD, that, for all intents and purposes is "the gospel" v.v. that family and their hopes to keep their family together.
Here is another excerpt:
"To legally advance the false allegations of a child with DTD is an unrecognized, innocent and unintended form of further harm to that child. It is a serious, complex matter that requires education, attention and action. In our mission to protect children, it is our duty to educate others that a child who has experienced early trauma may falsely accuse innocent adults of abuse and neglect. This forward is intended for that purpose.
The remaining portion of this post is intended for those caring, innocent adults currently navigating this issue."
(Image courtesy of returnmychild.com.)
I am fully willing to admit there are plenty of damaged children who might make false allegations of abuse (I actually even had that happen to me once) but to make a "clinical designation" for it, and to claim that it is something other than what it is (IMHO) does no good for anyone. At root--these are extremely variable, non-pigeon-holed sets of unusual circumstances that can not be labeled, drugged and quelled by/into homogeneous "group-think" solutions.
Society certainly can not condone the use of psychiatric acronyms that excuse abuse DONE BY GOVERNMENT PERPS (that results in the exact same behaviors) as though children could not act in similar ways when abused BY THEM, and that blames only biological parents. That is a recipe for a prolonged descent into total bureaucratic madness. But let's take a look at the meat of this article, and off of the forward to it.
(Image courtesy of sott.net.)
The interview takes up the rest of the article. A mother who had been through the ringer over such false accusations is interviewing Diane Redleaf, who is described as "a leading civil rights lawyer for families in the child welfare system." The title still escapes me, as there is no real address to CPS "to do no harm," but, rather a detailed set of instructions as to how parents and caregivers can/should avoid INTENDED HARM from CPS when falsely accused.
Here is one excerpt of their conversation:
"Keri: What if CPS wants to talk to our kids? Can they interview them without permission at school or similar locations?
Diane: It’s such a basic question but there isn’t a clear answer as a matter of law. They shouldn’t be able to speak to a child at school without the parent’s permission, especially if it’s not an emergency. They cannot speak to a child in the home without parental consent unless they have a court order or a dire (life-threatening) emergency. Children also have the right to not talk to investigators but of course they get intimidated easily. This is why it’s important to try to set up the interview in a therapeutic setting, especially if the child has a mental health issue."
I picked this particular excerpt simply because it quickly gives a good flavor of what the rest of the article is about. It's pretty standard, boiler-plate advice, if your new to this blog. Diane's perspectives are certainly helpful to parents and caregivers in need, but certainly not unique. There are dozens of similar "how to" (and "how not to") guides on the internet dealing with CPS situations. She's a bit of an insider, and obviously believes in CPS as a "valuable...(something or other...) So, this article is definitely not for reformers, but for those looking for the best and easiest way out of a current crisis.
There is also some "advice" that I would question, such as the following:
"Keri: When do we need a lawyer?
Diane: If you get the sense there is the possibility of legal action or you need advice on how to answer potentially problematic questions then getting legal counsel is a good idea. There are cases that get closed as unfounded right away. In those cases, getting a lawyer isn’t necessarily a good use of your funds and may make things worse. Unfortunately, you may be viewed as having something to hide if you get a lawyer."
(Image courtesy of nationallibertyalliance.org.)
Personally, I would get a lawyer involved AT THE VERY FIRST CONTACT, and wouldn't answer any questions (or let my children be questioned) without a lawyer present. OH, and YEA, I would have specific instructions on file signed by a school administrator specifically requiring that I receive a phone call any time any non-school-district employee wanted to talk to my children without me present. This last excerpt feels deferential to CPS, and is, again, another indicator that we aren't getting any real ideas about how to correct CPS culture here.
You can keep looking, but you won't find the critique of CPS (and/or of the aligned medical/legal establishment) that the first four words of the title seem to imply you might be getting at some point. Still, the article (especially the forward and last paragraphs) are an important part of the overall CPS discussion, as false allegations are a common and growing problem of which everyone should be aware.
Here is how the article summarizes the issue:
"'All allegations of child abuse and neglect should be taken seriously,' said Institute for Attachment and Child Development Executive Director Forrest Lien. 'It is important for people to understand the possibility of false allegations as well, however. Many adults who believe false allegations have the child’s best interest at heart but have no idea the harm they can inadvertently cause to the family and child'."
Now, THAT is a worthwhile statement to address to CPS and some of the more gleeful "mandated reporters" who believe in the current corrupt system.
"DO NO HARM" is a truism that really needs to be applied to CPS--even though they will ignore it just as modern pharma and the medical establishment now does, but at least the statement SHOULD BE MADE TO APPLY TO THEM, in every way possible.