You are an individual. You are different, separate, and distinct from the other 8 billion humans on this planet. Sometimes, you will fail. You will make errors and omissions. But get over it because we all make mistakes. In times when those mistakes might lead to more serious consequences or misunderstandings, it’s important to know what are my rights during a DCF investigation.
Child Protective Services (CPS) responds to each family differently when looking into child abuse and neglect. That means you are on your own, unique journey when involved with them. Comparing your success or failure with CPS to another person’s situation will not help you.
When you understand that comparing yourself to others will not serve you well, it will be much easier to move out of that mindset. Of course, it’s human nature to compare oneself to others. The important thing is to catch yourself when you do this. The only person who has lived your exact life is YOU! You only have yourself to compare against when assessing how you are doing with CPS! Setting reasonable and smart goals for yourself and seeing where you are today versus where you were yesterday is the key. Take everything step by step.
A client of mine was battling a heavy learning disability, which made his progress with CPS extremely difficult. He had to work twice as hard as other parents did. Because of his learning disability, he struggled to keep up with all the services his CPS recommended for him. But I just kept telling him, “what does not kill you makes you that much stronger”.
My client was comparing his progress to other parents involved with CPS. Eventually, he realized that comparing himself to others was only setting him back further. He was worried about not being able to keep up, which added to the stress the CPS involvement was already bringing him.
That’s when his progress really began. He worked hard at drowning out the noise and doubts flooding his brain. When he started to focus on what he needed to do and how he could personally get there, he finally completed the tasks in his “Action Plan.”
Though he later admitted it was difficult, the taste of success with his action plan was sweet. But when his case finally got closed, success tasted downright delicious. He truly earned the positive results after navigating the complex DCF appeal process. Understanding his parents’ rights against DCF was crucial in effectively advocating for his family and turning the situation around.
DISCLAIMER
You find yourself in this situation, it’s advisable to seek legal representation from a qualified attorney, like those at the Law Office of Kevin Seaver, who can advocate for your rights and guide you through the complex process of a DCF investigation.
Remember that the ultimate goal of DCF is to ensure the safety and well-being of children while supporting families in crisis.
Please note that this article does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between our law firm and the reader and is provided for informational purposes only. Information in this article does not apply to all readers.
Readers should not rely on this information as legal advice and should seek specific counsel from the attorney based on personal circumstances. Thank you.
Kevin Patrick Seaver is a Massachusetts DCF Defense Lawyer who represents parents against false child abuse allegations.
Massachusetts DCF Defense Lawyer Kevin Seaver has been successfully fighting false child abuse allegations since 1991.