Social Worker gets Involved after Emergency Room Visit (Wisconsin)

[Sileree]

http://www.hslda.org/hs/state/wi/200904050.asp

"When the emergency room staff understood that the family had not had their children vaccinated according to the standard schedule and that they homeschooled, it appears they decided this was enough to call the child protection hotline to report the parents as neglecting their children."

[brendaziz]

CRAZY! I feel SO bad for that family for even being hassled at all for something so ridiculous.

Why the combination of not-vaccinating and homeschooling would be reason for calling child services is insane to me.

It's like "oh, not vaccinating is crazy enough- but GASP they teach their own kids instead of sending them on the school bus! They MUST be unfit parents!"


things like this TERRIFY me.

[lauradbg]

I don't like the HSLDA, so I've not read the story... I need more details though. I will go look.

[AngelBee]

:

[Scattershoot]

Just another save the world social worker who needs some life experience. Unfortunately, these types of people are given way too much power. By the time they start to get that experience, they usually quit.

[SunshineJ]

Originally Posted by Scattershoot

Just another save the world social worker who needs some life experience. Unfortunately, these types of people are given way too much power. By the time they start to get that experience, they usually quit.

Generally I agree, but I don't think the sw was at fault here. The hospital staff reported the family because of the non-vax + homeschooling choices. Once that report is made, the social worker has no choice but to follow up on it. I'm not sure why the family would choose to get the tetnus shot (and wonder if it was the tetnus only or a dtap variation) and not the TIG, bit that was certainly their choice to make.

[Scattershoot]

Originally Posted by SunshineJ

Generally I agree, but I don't think the sw was at fault here. The hospital staff reported the family because of the non-vax + homeschooling choices. Once that report is made, the social worker has no choice but to follow up on it.

I agree with you. They do have to follow up. I've been involved in hundreds of CPS cases. If HSLDA hadn't gotten involved and that social worker hadn't received a call from them, who knows what would have happened. Just the fact that the social worker called the child's doctor to gather info on vaccination status creates concern. What reasononing would lead to this? Suspected abuse and neglect are the concern of CPS. What does vaccination have to do with this? Where was the worker trying to go with this? Maybe the worker was just ignorant and did not realize people have a right to not vaccinate.

In my experience, most CPS workers are young and inexperienced. I've seen that cause a LOT of families terrible hardships, because CPS has the guns on their side. There needs to more training for these inexperienced people so they know the laws they are actually trying to enforce.

[Oonah]

out of curiosity, in cases like this (where the call is completely unnecessary) is there ever any follow up with the callers (esp professionals like ER staff) to educate them so they don't make mistakes like this with other patients?

[Amylcd]

Originally Posted by Oonah

out of curiosity, in cases like this (where the call is completely unnecessary) is there ever any follow up with the callers (esp professionals like ER staff) to educate them so they don't make mistakes like this with other patients?

I seriously doubt it. :

[Gitti]

I did not read the link but -

No one has to let a social worker into their home unless they have a search warrant. It is foolish to let them in to try and proof that you are a good parent. They don't look for the positive, they come to search for something that they can build a case on.

Again: DO NOT LET THEM IN unless they have a search warrant.

[Magali]

Originally Posted by SunshineJ

I'm not sure why the family would choose to get the tetnus shot (and wonder if it was the tetnus only or a dtap variation) and not the TIG, bit that was certainly their choice to make.

Right. If the child's cuts were a risk for tetanus, why would they get a tetanus shot that wouldn't protect him from tetanus from the cuts he was at the ER for? Esp. since the family has a history of vax reactions.

[SoCaliMommy]

How sad they had to deal with the social worker but, Why the heck take a child to a ER for "small cuts from a tape measure" that makes no sense at all, that sounds like they should have made a trip the the pediatricians office instead.

[Amylcd]

Originally Posted by SoCaliMommy

How sad they had to deal with the social worker but, Why the heck take a child to a ER for "small cuts from a tape measure" that makes no sense at all, that sounds like they should have made a trip the the pediatricians office instead.

It's possible that they did not have insurance. I know many families who have no insurance, and can not afford a Dr. visit - so they go to the ER (or urgent care center) when they need treatment.

[Turquesa]

Speaking as a sw, I can say that CPS is so understaffed and underfunded, especially these days with all of the ruthless state budget cuts. I'm astonished that they would dedicate their resources to something so trivial when there is--oh, I dunno--maybe some real child abuse out there? Just a thought...