Understanding the Legal Line Between Discipline and Abuse Spanking as a form of discipline has long been a controversial topic among parents, educators, and child welfare advocates. While some argue that it is an effective way to correct behavior, others believe it can cause lasting harm. In New Jersey, spanking is not automatically considered child…
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Emergency Custody Orders
Parents work hard to make sure that their children receive the care and nurturing that they require to grow and thrive. During a marriage or stable relationship, parents will both work together to work toward this goal. After a marriage or relationship disintegrates, however, parenting together with a former spouse or partner can be more…
Read More »Orders for Protection - Who Do They Cover and Child Custody
In the United States, one in three women and one in four men have been victims of domestic violence. Unfortunately, New Jersey is not free from the very serious problem posed by violence, and the vast majority of victims never even report the violence. Fortunately, there are resources available for victims, including hotlines and shelters. …
Read More »The DCPP Has Accused Me of Inadequate Supervision. What Does That Mean?
Any parent will tell you that parenting is the most difficult job out there. Every child is different, and each child presents unique personality traits, has different educational abilities, and may have special physical or emotional requirements. In short, there is no “one size fits all” parenting strategy. Although parents are usually doing their best,…
Read More »How to Appeal the DCPP's Decision to Remove Your Children From Your Home
Very few things will strike fear in the heart of a parent faster than the thought of being forcibly separated from their children. Parents work hard to provide for their children and make sure that they are happy, healthy, and in a stable environment. The New Jersey Department of Children Protection and Permanency is similarly…
Read More »CPS Nightmare? Here’s How to Get Control of Your Case
If you feel confused, disrespected, and uninformed in your CPS case, you are not alone. Without guidance, many parents can experience a CPS nightmare when their case becomes complicated, or other barriers get in the way of reunification. Fortunately, you can gain control of your case by following these steps. Communication, Communication, Communication A primary…
Read More »Playground Prattle: When Schools Respond to Child Abuse Red Flags
Reporting Child Abuse Red Flags New Jersey schools play an instrumental role in looking out for the physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing of New Jersey children. Part of that role involves reporting suspected cases of child abuse or neglect. Due to increased pressure from the public for full accountability, school personnel increasingly have to make…
Read More »Stranger Danger: Protecting Your Kids from CPS Caseworkers
The Authority to Question DCPP caseworkers are trained in obtaining honest information about the allegations they investigate. One way they work to get truthful statements from children is to talk to them without the parent present. DCPP (formerly DYFS) caseworkers have the authority to show up at your child’s school or daycare and ask to…
Read More »Evidence of Neglect: What Proof do They Need?
Before the DCPP, New Jersey’s CPS agency can make an established or substantiated finding in a child welfare investigation, it must collect and evaluate evidence. So, in child neglect cases that often revolve around a parent’s failure to act, what serves as evidence? And how can someone prove you neglected your child? Answering these questions…
Read More »For All the Wrong Reasons: A Look at False Child Abuse Reports
Why Do People Make False Child Abuse Reports? Although New Jersey must investigate every child abuse referral, only a portion of those initial allegations ends up substantiated. While some unsubstantiated allegations may come from well-meaning people who believed a child might have been at risk, others come from those who fabricated allegations for the wrong…
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