Runninghead:SLPaper

CPSServiceLearningPaper
AaliyahHoliday
November24,2015

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TheTexasDepartmentofFamilyandProtectiveServicesmissionistoprotectchildren,
theelderly,andthepeoplewithdisabilitiesfromabuse,neglect,andexploitationbyinvolving
clients,families,andcommunities.TherearefivemajorprogramsintheDepartmentofFamily
andProtectiveServices:AdultProtectiveServicesthatprotectstheelderlyandpeoplewith
disabilitiesfromabuse,neglect,andexploitationthroughinvestigationsandservicesChild
ProtectiveServicesthatprotectschildrenfromabuseandneglectthroughinvestigations,
services,fostercare,andadoptionChildCareLicensingthatregulatesdaycare,fostercare,
adoptionagencies,residentialtreatmentcenters,beforeandafterschoolprograms,and
maternityhomesStatewideIntakethattakesreportsofabuse,neglect,andexploitationfrom
acrossthatsttesthroughitsTexasAbuseHotline(18002525400)andthroughthewebsite
TxAbuseHotline.org24hoursaday,everydayoftheyearPreventionandEarlyIntervention
thatmanagescommunitybasedprogramsthatpreventjuveniledelinquencyandchildabuseand
negelct.
MyservicelearningplacementwasattheDentonChildProtectiveServicesAgency.I
wasassignedtoLauraLewis,thesupervisoroftheDentonCPSInvestigationsDepartment.Ms.
LewisisoriginallyfromNewOrleans,LouisianaandattendedNorthwesternUniversityin
Evanston,IllinoiswithaBachelorsinCriminalJustice.Shehasovereightyearsofexperiences
workingwiththeDentonChildProtectiveServices.Duringourinitialintroductionmeeting,Ms.
LewisexplainedtheprocessaboutCPS.AlotoftheinformationIheardfromherwasalready
discussedinmyChildWelfareclasssuchaskinshipcare,ChildAbuseHotline,priorityoneand
twocases,etc.Insteadofinterrupting,IlistenedcarefullyinwrotedowneverythingIcould
remember.Ms.LewisexplainedthatsincesheistheInvestigationssupervisor,shewillnotbe

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interactingalotwithclients.Herjobistoassignthecasestohercaseworkersinthedepartment
andbeupdatedonimportantinformation.WheneverIcometocometovolunteer,shewould
assignmetocaseworkerthathasagoodenoughcaseloadtokeepmeoccupied.
Throughoutvolunteeringforthemonth,IwasusuallyassignedtoTerraHelus.Sheis
fromKansasandhasBachelorsdegreeinSocialWork.Shewasaveryfunpersontoshadowas
anintern.Ms.Helusisverylivelyandquirky.IwasabletoobserveaparentvisitintheCPS
building.Themotherhadshownuplate,andanothercaseworkerwasholdingupourscheduled
roomforthetime.Tostalltime,Ms.Helusdecidedtodoaquickinterviewwiththemother.This
wasthemothersfirstvisitwithhernewborndaughtersinceshehadmissedthepreviously
scheduledvisitingappointment.Ms.Helusinformedthemotherthatherdaughterwastested
positiveformarijuanawhenthechildwasborn.Themotherstatedthatshehasnotusedthedrug
marijuanainalmostfouryearsandwasunsureofhowitgotinthebabyssystem.Ms.Helus
knewthatthemotherwaslying,butshedidnotcontinuetobepersistent.Oncetheroom
visitationroomwasvacant,weinstructedthemothertotheroomandwatchedthroughtheother
side.Manymembersthatmayormaynotbeinvolvedinthecasewouldoftendiscuss
informationabouttheclients.Thefrontdesksecuritywasevenstatingheropinionsandgossip
whilewewereobservingtheparentvisitationthroughtheglass.Iwasn'tsurehowtofeelabout
thisasIcontemplatedthecodeofethicsforsocialworkers.
IwasabletogoonahighschoolvisitinPilotPointtospeakwithayoungteenagegirl.
Shewas16,andstatedtoMs.Helusthatherfatherhadattackedherafterrefusingtogoto
churchservice.Astheyoungladywastryingtotellherstory,Inoticedthatshewouldjump
aroundalot.Shelltalkaboutwhathappenedthreeyearsagoandsomehowconfuseditwith

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whathappenedafewweeksago.Theyoungladyalsoclaimsthatheryoungerbrotheristhe
goldenchilddespiteonbeingafewyearsapart.Irememberedtosittherequietlyandobserve
becauseIdidnotwanttodrawattention.Aftertheinterview,Ms.Helusexplainedtomethat
sometimesitisdifficulttoclassifychildabusecaseswithteenagersbecauseofthecommon
rebellionphrase.Sometimes,thecasescanbeveryobviousandothertimesyouhavetokeep
diggingupdirtjusttobecertainthatyoudontcallitaseriouscase.ForMs.Helus,shewould
havetodigupmoreonthiscasesbeforewritingitoff.Shehadtotalktotheyoungerbrotherand
theparents.Unfortunately,Idonotknowhashappenedinthiscase.
ThebiggestthingIgottodoisattendingacourthearingattheDentonCourthouse.A
motherwasundertheinfluenceofmethwhiledrivingwithheroneyearoldsoninthebackseat.
Areportwasmadethatthecarwasstolenandlicenseplateswerefake.Themotherwasheldin
jailforafewdayswhilehersonwastakenawayandplacedinfostercare.Atthehearing,Ms.
Helustestifiedtobeingtheprimarycaseworkeronthiscaseandrecitingeverythingsheknown
aboutthesituationtothejudge.Sincethiswasafourteendayhearing,itwasonlythebeginning
processofthecase.Themotherrequestedforacourtapprovedattorneywhichuponreviewshe
wasapproved.Thejudgewasverysympathetictowardsandgaveanenlightenedspeechabout
wantingtoseeherreunitedwithherchild.Themotherwasveryemotional,butIbelievethe
judgegotthroughtoherinagoodway.
TheCPSagencyisfilledwithmanyunknowncasesandsurprises.Itstartedoffslow,but
eventuallygotbetterasthesemesterwenton.Everyonehasastuckupandrudeopinionabout
thepeoplethatworkforCPS,butIbelievethattheyarejustmisunderstoodintheirjob
descriptions.Afterdoingthisinternexperience,IwouldntmindworkingforCPSforawhilein

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mycareer.Withasocialworkdegree,Icannotalmostanything,andwithinCPS,youllfind
peoplewithweirdbackgroundsthatdonotconnectwiththeCPSagency.