#🎶the employee shoulda been fired 🎶

[fluent-in-lesbianism]

Hey, I know you work with CPS, and I was hoping you could help with something. I work in administration at a state-funded company that rehabilitates wards of the state. I recently found out that one of our staff hit a child, then followed them to their bedroom and closed the door. They were alone for approximately 30 minutes, and the client showed another staff the handprint left on his leg (from the slap). That happened last month, and then a couple days ago, it allegedly happened again (I was not there, I'm in the office) but another client reported it to the manager.

I was furious, because he wasn't punished, our VP said "kids exaggerate all the time" and wrote it off. Since I'm a mandated reporter and NO ONE ELSE wanted to do anything, I filed a report last night. Someone from CPS/the state showed up this morning and the office has been a shitshow since. They're being secretive and won't make eye contact. I think they know it was me, and my boss had been talking to lawyers all day - she's very into firing people.

Do you know what generally happens after someone makes a report, and what businesses end up doing, if they're involved? If you don't know, that's totally fine! I've just never been in this situation before and would appreciate any info!

Every state's policies regarding out-of-home investigations and mandated reporters are different. My state might handle cases similar to yours differently than where you are.

How-fucking-ever:

This is a case all day long, no matter which state you're in, due to the fact that this is a facility caring for children.

The perpetrator should've been put on suspension, a police report made by your bosses, and a CPS report called in the second ANYONE on staff heard about it or saw the marks. Everyone working at your facility is considered a mandated reporter. It doesn't matter if they're unlicensed, sub-contracted, or just a volunteer. If you work with or around children in any capacity, you're a mandated reporter. Full stop. No exceptions.

So your VP should've filed the CPS report. The staff member the child showed the handprint to should've filed the CPS report. The manager should've filed the CPS report. The fact that it sounds like it went through multiple staff members before it even reached you, is ridiculously outside of federal policy. You did exactly what you were supposed to do, anon. You did good!

But, anyway. Once a report is filed with CPS, a caseworker will make contact with the victim, interview the perpetrator, follow-up with the reporter (aka you), interview any witnesses to the events, view the camera footage, make contact with the police, send the child off for a forensic interview, speak to the higher ups about why it took so long for a report to be made, etc. Once there is enough evidence to support the allegation, the employee should be fired since they no longer qualify for their position (You're not allowed to work with kids if you have Indicated CPS history as the perpetrator).

What will NOT happen is your boss knowing you filed the report (unless you tell them). Mandated reporter identities are treated the same as anonymous reports when it comes to keeping it from the families/staff. The only reason we ask for your name, title, and agency is to provide proof for a judge or state reviewer that you fulfilled the mandated reporter requirements. A CPS worker revealing the identity of a reporter (except when court ordered) is actually punishable by immediate termination, jail time, and like a bajillion dollar fine. So if your bosses try to lie and say they know you made the report, don't confirm anything. They don't know, and they never will. Not even their lawyers have access to that information.

And since you are a mandated reporter, you're actually protected by law from any retaliatory actions (termination, write ups, inappropriate remarks, intimidation, etc.). If at any point in time you feel like your bosses, or any staff member, retaliated against you because you allegedly filed the report, then you can file a complaint with the EEOC and get 👏🏻your 👏🏻money 👏🏻