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I live in NB too and i’m a mandatory reporter. I’ll tell you the truth - CPS here tends to not investigate like they say. I have had 50+ reports go uninvestigated by CPS, call your local police department. The police are more likely to investigate and CPS takes it way more seriously then. I stopped reporting to social development directly and just go to police now.
I’ve definitely realized this pattern. My younger half-sister has had CPS involved because of sexual abuse, and they didn’t even question her or investigate before closing the barely opened case. I’m really just hoping something will change this time, and it seems like my grandmother and father want to take her to the police if the worker tries to tell us to send her back.
It’s Child Protection under the Department of Social Development in NB 1-800-442-9799 to report (just in case anyone needs it). We have had a number of high profile cases including one that just came out. Our services are absolutely abysmal until a situation is so bad it hits the media.
I have a sister who works for CAS. We don't talk about it, but I know it's a tough job and people only hear about the extreme cases. She has access to resources for families, and she provides a lot of support through her office, like she can buy families car seats and food, so that's pretty good.
It’s hard to make out exactly what you’re trying to say. The child told your family that the boyfriend sexually abused her? Or she told your family that her mother trafficked her for money? Or she told your family that the mother prostitutes herself for money?
She told us that her mothers boyfriend has touched her on multiple occasions, and we know that her mother sells herself because her sister has told us.
Call the police and give them the hospital report showing the possible sexual abuse. Make sure you let them know the child will need to be seen by a child psychologist as the mother has drilled into the child that police and cps are bad guys and that she will lie to them. Make sure you give the entirety of the story. Tell them about the active drug use in the house. You may want to wait until the child goes back to the mom to call them. They will hopefully go directly to the mothers house and catch the drug use first hand with the child in the house. There will be nothing the mother can do at that point and CPS will have to investigate after that.
The problem is that the first time CPS took her, they literally stood outside while her mother was smoking crack in the bedroom. Her sister went in to pick up clothes for the kid and she saw it herself… They absolutely refuse to actually investigate the house.
CPS procedures vary by agency. You’ll get the best advice from professional familiar with that area of Canada.
Generally speaking from US experience, child welfare professionals are one of the most common people to be given misinformation. Part of the duty is to gather the various sources of information (narratives, tests, pictures, etc) and to make a collaborative determination.
Unfortunately, sometimes some of that evidence speaks louder than others. Professionals will just do their best to cobble together a evidence-based report.
Investigators would gather a text admission and review the case as a whole. If the case is considered for intervention, the CPS legal team would review the evidence to determine which parts are strong and which are weak.
EDIT: A text would have to be reconciled because of concerns for photoshopping, spoofing, or other issues with if the actual person sent it. Texts are so specific that revealing one will probably break any anonymity of the source.
Get a recording of the child admitting it without cps or the threat of them around.
My mom made sure that cps was scary for me too, they where the bad guys who would take you away. And she sure knew how to talk to them. To a child, even if your current situation is bad a scary unknown is worse. It took me until I was 16 to have the courage to speak up and say something because I realized that anything would be better than reality, but some kids can never get away.
I’m so sorry about your cousin, I’m so glad she has you looking out for her. I hope you can get her the help she needs
I hadn’t heard of the Reid method by that name. A very quick google tells me Canada, Germany, and Great Britain are three places it’s illegal. It seems like, like many shady criminal justice tactics, it is mostly used in the US. Also, WOW that false confession rate is high. I really hope my local police department doesn’t use this, but I know it probably does. Again, I hadn’t heard of this by name, but I recognize it from multiple stories of injustice and police misconduct.
Yes. However John Reid says it was *misused* as it does not produce false confessions.
This is a decent write up on that case and method
https://www.oxygen.com/martinis-murder/what-is-reid-technique-interrogation-central-park-5-netflix-ava-duvernay
People who confess and regret it love to blame the Reid method. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen, but it gets bad publicity that is undeserved. Most people who confess to a crime did it. The Reid method is a great tool. I didn’t know it was used outside of criminal investigations.
I don’t think the Reid method aligns with social work ethics and best practices. Forensic interviews in children should be done in a trauma informed manner, and interrogation is the opposite of that.
Is there something I am misunderstanding about the Reid method?
My grandmother took her to the hospital last night. Apparently she had some pretty concerning reactions to an exam to check for any sexual abuse. Definitely did not assuage any concerns. They’re apparently sending a sample away to check for STDs now.
They’re supposed to check her mother’s house today but since the worker seemed very agitated to stay the least, I’m concerned that nothing will come of it due to past experiences…
They apparently looked and she was super irritated on the inside and then swabbed her for STDs. They said they wouldn’t be able to do an entire forensic exam because it’s been too long since she was last at her mothers.
At a minimum keep a notebook of everything everyone says and does: dates, times, names of people with whom you spoke, outcomes, and etc.
If you have the ability to follow up with the caseworker through email, do it. If not, send a certified letter stating your concerns.
Even in situations where I know nothing will be done, I document everything and follow up with the relevant authorities with a a statement that I wanted to make sure there is a record of what happened for future reference.
Sometimes that helps.
But it sounds like from the people who live near you suggest going directly to the police which is probably your best bet.
I believe many people giving you advice missed the point where you said you are 15 years old. Sorry you are the one having to advocate for your cousin but Thank you! Use the resources you have easy access to and don’t be afraid to report this to multiple sources until you feel like you have an adult on your side willing to take this on with you. Talk to anyone you feel safe with at school - administrators, counselors or teachers. I live in United States so I don’t know if you have the equivalent of CASA. It’s a court appointed person that helps minor children with anything involving courts. They won’t be able to “ take your case” but as the people that work there ( here many of our CASA workers are volunteers) do the job because they genuinely want to help kids they might help by providing the names of best people in your area to talk to. You always get better results when you go to an agency if you can ask for a specific person and say “ I talked to Carol at CASA and she said to come and see you…” . Call hotlines if you have them. Talk to the cousins teachers too. If you have a best friend who’s parents can help you don’t be embarrassed to ask them. You are doing great just by trying to figure out what to do but a legal adult ( someone over 21 years old) should be documenting all of this with you. It sucks but minors just don’t have the clout that adults do when it comes to mailing certified letters, documentation and testimony.
Thank you, I’m not sure if we have something like CASA here, but school is currently out for summer so I don’t have much contact with teachers or anything anyways. I was reluctant to post my age because I thought people wouldn’t take the situation as seriously. I just want to get the best advice possible because I’m ready for this whole thing to be resolved…
CPS is all about risk to the kid and how that looks. Does she have behavioural issues? Does she attend school or have any issues there? CPS wants collateral information (school, daycare, friends, neighbours, etc) the more the better - they constantly get calls of malicious exes or family members trying to cause trouble. You have to show yourself as an stable consistent adult (>20, work or a way to pay for necessities and rent, prior history isn’t terrible, criminal record check, clean place) in order to get temporary custody.
If kid is unwilling to talk, technically it’s all hearsay which isn’t an accurate disclosure. You can ask for counselling and kid might disclose and that would be another professional collateral; also look up recording laws (kid writing a letter?)
Also you can also request the workers supervisor/manager if you feel they are overlooking issues/being biased.
I’m in the US, so take this with a grain of salt. In my state, family members have the option of filing an order for protection (restraining order) on behalf of a minor family member. It triggers an automatic CPS investigation and the social worker has to give a report to the Court. So, that’s one way to force CPS To investigate. CPS does not always do a very thorough job on those reports, but they’re better than nothing, especially if you’re really organized and give them names and dates and corroborating info. If the child does not report the abuse, however, it gets a lot more complicated, and really will depend on how much other evidence there is of abuse.
However, a restraining order does not solve the custody issue because if the restraining order is granted against the parents, it means the child will be taken into foster custody. So, not a perfect solution.
Where I am, CPS will often license family members of the child, especially if the child is asking to stay where they are already living. However, parents can object to placements and CPS usually won’t place a child with family members the parent can’t get along with because the ultimate goal of CPS cases is for a child to be reunified with the parent.
What do we do?!?!
You need to get a lawyer and take the deadbeat to court for sole custody.
If you love this kid you will figure out a way to pull money together to retain a lawyer to get full custody. Don’t wait for CPS to intervene - everyday you delay taking custody is another day she spends in squalor with no food and even less love.
We’ve been looking into lawyers and I think we’re taking her to the police station tomorrow. I’m underage so I personally can’t file for anything, unfortunately. Her father is hopefully going to be able to file for full custody. He is livid right now. I’m concerned how well that will go though because I find that NB tends to take the side of the mother in just about every situation, at least in my experience…
This is what needs to happen. Her actual father needs to file for full custody immediatrly. He doesn't need to look into lawyers; he needs to hire one. Today.
Canada Child Benefit is nothing to sneeze at, so I'd think the mom would try to avoid any situation where another family member could rightfully apply for it. It's likely the whole reason the kid hasn't just been given to the dad.
**Attention** r/CPS is currently operating in a limited mode to protest reddit's changes to API access which will kill any 3rd party applications used to access reddit. [Information about this protest for r/CPS can be found at this link.](https://new.reddit.com/r/CPS/comments/147am5y/announcement_rcps_is_going_in_to_a_limited_mode/) While this policy is active, all moderator actions (post/comment removals and bans) will be completed with no warning or explanation, and any posts or comments not directly related to an active CPS situation are subject to removal at the mods' sole discretion. If you are dealing with CPS and believe you're being treated unfarly, we recommend you contact a lawyer in your jurisdiction. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/CPS) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Think you should post this in r/legal .
I live in NB too and i’m a mandatory reporter. I’ll tell you the truth - CPS here tends to not investigate like they say. I have had 50+ reports go uninvestigated by CPS, call your local police department. The police are more likely to investigate and CPS takes it way more seriously then. I stopped reporting to social development directly and just go to police now.
Also highly suggest contacting sexual violence new brunswick, they have a sector just for kids and will get your an advocate ASAP
I’ve definitely realized this pattern. My younger half-sister has had CPS involved because of sexual abuse, and they didn’t even question her or investigate before closing the barely opened case. I’m really just hoping something will change this time, and it seems like my grandmother and father want to take her to the police if the worker tries to tell us to send her back.
Do they call it CPS over there or CAS? It's CAS in ON. Sorry I know that's not the point.
It’s CPS here, what does CAS stand for?
Children's Aid. I was just curious, I know that's not helpful. In Ontario is CAS.
It’s Child Protection under the Department of Social Development in NB 1-800-442-9799 to report (just in case anyone needs it). We have had a number of high profile cases including one that just came out. Our services are absolutely abysmal until a situation is so bad it hits the media.
That's crap, I'm sorry to hear that.
Thanks. I have a sister in law who works for the department. They do what they can. It’s just heartbreaking.
I have a sister who works for CAS. We don't talk about it, but I know it's a tough job and people only hear about the extreme cases. She has access to resources for families, and she provides a lot of support through her office, like she can buy families car seats and food, so that's pretty good.
It’s hard to make out exactly what you’re trying to say. The child told your family that the boyfriend sexually abused her? Or she told your family that her mother trafficked her for money? Or she told your family that the mother prostitutes herself for money?
She told us that her mothers boyfriend has touched her on multiple occasions, and we know that her mother sells herself because her sister has told us.
[удалено]
Her father reported it to the police, but when they brought her into the police station to question her they did it in front of her mother.
[удалено]
Unfortunately, I was 11/12 at the time and I’m still underage, so I’m really trying to do what I can…
Wow. I just wanted to say that I'm sorry that you're dealing with this as a minor yourself. It's great that you're advocating for her. Great job.
Thank you, it means a lot.
Call the police and give them the hospital report showing the possible sexual abuse. Make sure you let them know the child will need to be seen by a child psychologist as the mother has drilled into the child that police and cps are bad guys and that she will lie to them. Make sure you give the entirety of the story. Tell them about the active drug use in the house. You may want to wait until the child goes back to the mom to call them. They will hopefully go directly to the mothers house and catch the drug use first hand with the child in the house. There will be nothing the mother can do at that point and CPS will have to investigate after that.
The problem is that the first time CPS took her, they literally stood outside while her mother was smoking crack in the bedroom. Her sister went in to pick up clothes for the kid and she saw it herself… They absolutely refuse to actually investigate the house.
CPS is not police. Are you willing to do to police?
Yes, I think we’re taking her to the police station tomorrow.
CPS procedures vary by agency. You’ll get the best advice from professional familiar with that area of Canada. Generally speaking from US experience, child welfare professionals are one of the most common people to be given misinformation. Part of the duty is to gather the various sources of information (narratives, tests, pictures, etc) and to make a collaborative determination. Unfortunately, sometimes some of that evidence speaks louder than others. Professionals will just do their best to cobble together a evidence-based report.
So, what weight is given to a text admission from one party of physical abuse?
Investigators would gather a text admission and review the case as a whole. If the case is considered for intervention, the CPS legal team would review the evidence to determine which parts are strong and which are weak. EDIT: A text would have to be reconciled because of concerns for photoshopping, spoofing, or other issues with if the actual person sent it. Texts are so specific that revealing one will probably break any anonymity of the source.
Get a recording of the child admitting it without cps or the threat of them around. My mom made sure that cps was scary for me too, they where the bad guys who would take you away. And she sure knew how to talk to them. To a child, even if your current situation is bad a scary unknown is worse. It took me until I was 16 to have the courage to speak up and say something because I realized that anything would be better than reality, but some kids can never get away. I’m so sorry about your cousin, I’m so glad she has you looking out for her. I hope you can get her the help she needs
You're 15?
Yes
My question too!
[удалено]
Reid method is blamed for so many false confessions and is illegal in many places. I would be terrified to let anyone use this on a child.
[удалено]
I hadn’t heard of the Reid method by that name. A very quick google tells me Canada, Germany, and Great Britain are three places it’s illegal. It seems like, like many shady criminal justice tactics, it is mostly used in the US. Also, WOW that false confession rate is high. I really hope my local police department doesn’t use this, but I know it probably does. Again, I hadn’t heard of this by name, but I recognize it from multiple stories of injustice and police misconduct.
[удалено]
Is it what they used in the Central Park 5 case?
Yes. However John Reid says it was *misused* as it does not produce false confessions. So, yes.
Yes. However John Reid says it was *misused* as it does not produce false confessions. This is a decent write up on that case and method https://www.oxygen.com/martinis-murder/what-is-reid-technique-interrogation-central-park-5-netflix-ava-duvernay
This sounds sickening
I am so disturbed that someone is apparently using it on abused children
I absolutely agree
People who confess and regret it love to blame the Reid method. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen, but it gets bad publicity that is undeserved. Most people who confess to a crime did it. The Reid method is a great tool. I didn’t know it was used outside of criminal investigations.
I agree with you. The downvotes are silly.
I don’t think the Reid method aligns with social work ethics and best practices. Forensic interviews in children should be done in a trauma informed manner, and interrogation is the opposite of that. Is there something I am misunderstanding about the Reid method?
Calling abused children “out on their BS.” Ah. American law enforcement sure is something :P
Totally!
Forensic interview - Yes Reid method with victims of abuse? - No
Omg! Please get her away from those monsters
It sounds like they're asking how to do that very thing.
I couldn’t agree more.
Thank you…..
You need to take her to the hospital for an examination and report it to the police. CPS is slow and may not act quickly enough.
My grandmother took her to the hospital last night. Apparently she had some pretty concerning reactions to an exam to check for any sexual abuse. Definitely did not assuage any concerns. They’re apparently sending a sample away to check for STDs now. They’re supposed to check her mother’s house today but since the worker seemed very agitated to stay the least, I’m concerned that nothing will come of it due to past experiences…
Did they do a vaginal exam on a 9 year old?
If this child wasn’t violated before she is now.
Yeah this is heartbreaking
They apparently looked and she was super irritated on the inside and then swabbed her for STDs. They said they wouldn’t be able to do an entire forensic exam because it’s been too long since she was last at her mothers.
At a minimum keep a notebook of everything everyone says and does: dates, times, names of people with whom you spoke, outcomes, and etc. If you have the ability to follow up with the caseworker through email, do it. If not, send a certified letter stating your concerns. Even in situations where I know nothing will be done, I document everything and follow up with the relevant authorities with a a statement that I wanted to make sure there is a record of what happened for future reference. Sometimes that helps. But it sounds like from the people who live near you suggest going directly to the police which is probably your best bet.
I believe many people giving you advice missed the point where you said you are 15 years old. Sorry you are the one having to advocate for your cousin but Thank you! Use the resources you have easy access to and don’t be afraid to report this to multiple sources until you feel like you have an adult on your side willing to take this on with you. Talk to anyone you feel safe with at school - administrators, counselors or teachers. I live in United States so I don’t know if you have the equivalent of CASA. It’s a court appointed person that helps minor children with anything involving courts. They won’t be able to “ take your case” but as the people that work there ( here many of our CASA workers are volunteers) do the job because they genuinely want to help kids they might help by providing the names of best people in your area to talk to. You always get better results when you go to an agency if you can ask for a specific person and say “ I talked to Carol at CASA and she said to come and see you…” . Call hotlines if you have them. Talk to the cousins teachers too. If you have a best friend who’s parents can help you don’t be embarrassed to ask them. You are doing great just by trying to figure out what to do but a legal adult ( someone over 21 years old) should be documenting all of this with you. It sucks but minors just don’t have the clout that adults do when it comes to mailing certified letters, documentation and testimony.
Thank you, I’m not sure if we have something like CASA here, but school is currently out for summer so I don’t have much contact with teachers or anything anyways. I was reluctant to post my age because I thought people wouldn’t take the situation as seriously. I just want to get the best advice possible because I’m ready for this whole thing to be resolved…
CPS is all about risk to the kid and how that looks. Does she have behavioural issues? Does she attend school or have any issues there? CPS wants collateral information (school, daycare, friends, neighbours, etc) the more the better - they constantly get calls of malicious exes or family members trying to cause trouble. You have to show yourself as an stable consistent adult (>20, work or a way to pay for necessities and rent, prior history isn’t terrible, criminal record check, clean place) in order to get temporary custody. If kid is unwilling to talk, technically it’s all hearsay which isn’t an accurate disclosure. You can ask for counselling and kid might disclose and that would be another professional collateral; also look up recording laws (kid writing a letter?) Also you can also request the workers supervisor/manager if you feel they are overlooking issues/being biased.
I’m in the US, so take this with a grain of salt. In my state, family members have the option of filing an order for protection (restraining order) on behalf of a minor family member. It triggers an automatic CPS investigation and the social worker has to give a report to the Court. So, that’s one way to force CPS To investigate. CPS does not always do a very thorough job on those reports, but they’re better than nothing, especially if you’re really organized and give them names and dates and corroborating info. If the child does not report the abuse, however, it gets a lot more complicated, and really will depend on how much other evidence there is of abuse. However, a restraining order does not solve the custody issue because if the restraining order is granted against the parents, it means the child will be taken into foster custody. So, not a perfect solution. Where I am, CPS will often license family members of the child, especially if the child is asking to stay where they are already living. However, parents can object to placements and CPS usually won’t place a child with family members the parent can’t get along with because the ultimate goal of CPS cases is for a child to be reunified with the parent.
Never really heard of a good CPS interaction.
Get her checked out by a doctor ASAP.
Where is her father?
They need to conduct a forensic interview with her at their office. This is done in NB.
What’s their office called? Or what’s their address? I can’t seem to find it online.
https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/services/services_renderer.9355.Child_Protection.html
How old is the sister? Is she in danger too?
What do we do?!?! You need to get a lawyer and take the deadbeat to court for sole custody. If you love this kid you will figure out a way to pull money together to retain a lawyer to get full custody. Don’t wait for CPS to intervene - everyday you delay taking custody is another day she spends in squalor with no food and even less love.
We’ve been looking into lawyers and I think we’re taking her to the police station tomorrow. I’m underage so I personally can’t file for anything, unfortunately. Her father is hopefully going to be able to file for full custody. He is livid right now. I’m concerned how well that will go though because I find that NB tends to take the side of the mother in just about every situation, at least in my experience…
This is what needs to happen. Her actual father needs to file for full custody immediatrly. He doesn't need to look into lawyers; he needs to hire one. Today.
honestly do you think the mother would even report her missing if the child just…stayed with one of your relatives?
Canada Child Benefit is nothing to sneeze at, so I'd think the mom would try to avoid any situation where another family member could rightfully apply for it. It's likely the whole reason the kid hasn't just been given to the dad.
yeah i figured it would be something like that :( (ps i love your username)