If a mandated reporter, like a teacher or a day care worker, notices a child coming in hungry or with worn-out clothing, they often have few options other than to call a Child Protective Services hotline. In more than half of cases, this leads to a CPS investigation, even if the intent of the call is for additional support. As a result, one in three kids could experience a CPS investigation at some point by age 18, said Kelley Fong, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of California, Irvine. These are mostly children in working-class and low-income communities, particularly communities of color. “Once that process gets in motion, it’s a train that’s on the tracks,” Fong added, “and they start turning over stones.” 

For the full story, please visit https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2023/7/9/23786276/foster-care-adoption-system-poverty-neglect-dobbs-abortion.