Rochester urgently needs a new approach to ensuring child safety and promoting family stability. As the executive director of HOPE585, a youth-focused nonprofit that connects CPS-involved families to immediate resources to help keep their families together, I cannot ignore the indignities and hardships faced by families in poverty in this area.
As a former foster parent, I have seen the racial and economic disparities that subject certain families to intrusive interventions. As a former board member of the Child Advocacy Center of Greater Rochester, I am also deeply familiar with the horrific crimes committed against children.
The status quo is both costly and ineffective in addressing these nuanced challenges. Each year, resources fail to reach our most vulnerable neighbors before an overwhelming crisis consumes their lives. We must break this cycle to create meaningful change.
Sadly, child abuse prevention policies frequently undermine family integrity by mischaracterizing financially struggling parents as neglectful. It starts with an accusation that triggers a Child Protective Services (CPS) inquiry. Affected families are negatively impacted by the cloud of suspicion and intense scrutiny that follows. Lengthy investigations create fear and anxiety in parents and their children, leaving them confused about the disruption and whom to trust.
CPS prioritizes child safety in all welfare responses, focusing investigations on risk and safety assessments. According to a recent report by our state child welfare agency, Monroe County reported 10 child fatalities in 2023 and 6 in 2024. Every one of those losses is a devastating crisis that demands prevention.
Media attention can heighten fears of children “falling through the cracks,” however, it is equally important to address the dangers of placing children into a system plagued by bureaucratic shortcomings, safety issues and poor outcomes. Over-reporting, often seen as protective, also carries hidden harms that must not be ignored. Striking a careful balance is crucial to addressing abuse effectively while avoiding unintended consequences that have a lasting detrimental effect on children and their families.
There is a troubling connection between child welfare investigations and unaddressed poverty. Monroe County receives 9,764 annual abuse and neglect reports, 76% of which are unfounded. These cases, mostly labeled as neglect rather than abuse, often stem from poverty-related factors like inadequate food, shelter or medical care rather than intentional harm. Definitions need refining to ensure more accurate reporting, including removing “educational neglect” as a cause for investigation.
Unnecessary investigations harm families and come at a significant financial cost. In Monroe County, each investigation costs approximately $2,400. In 2023, unfounded cases in the county led to over $17 million in wasted taxpayer dollars, underscoring the financial and social impact of the current system.
Moreover, these investigations drain the time, resources and attention of child welfare workers, diverting their focus from addressing real cases of child abuse. Every moment spent investigating families struggling with poverty undermines the system’s ability to protect children who are truly in danger. It’s a failure that impacts the whole community.
At a recent HOPE585 town hall, local parents shared their experiences of the damage caused by child welfare overreach. A domestic violence survivor revealed her abuser’s false accusations led to dozens of unwarranted CPS investigations. Another mother described how CPS involvement after her child’s psychiatric hospitalizations delayed vital support. Many women in crisis voiced fears that seeking help might trigger CPS investigations instead of providing the aid they need.
The data and family stories behind thousands of unfounded allegations raise vital questions. Is a child’s malnutrition a sign of chronic food insecurity? If a student lacks proper clothing or misses several school days, is it due to poverty, not neglect? Are we ready to lead with compassion and resources instead of penalizing and breaking up families?
It’s time to recognize that many assumptions about child neglect stem from the financial hardships families endure. Over-reporting to CPS and invasive monitoring further destabilize children, making recovery even harder. Every statistic represents a child, a family, and a future: every 2.5 minutes, a child in America is removed from their home, often due to claims of “neglect,” which accounted for 62% of foster care entries in 2022, according to federal data.
Continuing this cycle of unjust surveillance will not address the underlying fractures caused by poverty. Instead, we must shift toward compassionate, community-driven care solutions that strengthen family bonds. We can restore hope and foster a thriving, united community by increasing preventive services, providing economic support and demanding equitable treatment.
