Policing, Protection, and the Pediatric Population

Abstract: Professionals across disciplines frequently interact with legal services, including the Child Protection System. As mandated reporters, they share responsibility with educators and law enforcement in identifying potential child maltreatment. However, this duty requires awareness of the broader social context, as reporting decisions can have profound and lasting effects on children and their families. While CPS aims to safeguard child welfare, its interactions with the medical system reflect longstanding racial and socioeconomic disparities. Minority and low-income families are disproportionately represented in CPS reports and experience poorer outcomes, such as lower adoption and reunification rates. Some scholars refer to CPS as a “family policing system,” emphasizing its role in surveillance, racialized targeting of Black and Indigenous families, and the criminalization of poverty. These systemic inequities raise concerns about the balance between child protection and potential institutional harm. Given the inherent vulnerability of children depending on others to meet their basic needs, it is essential to protect them from maltreatment at the hands of caregivers and systems alike.
All practitioners must critically examine disparities in CPS involvement and ensure that their reporting practices align with both ethical considerations and a child’s right to healthcare. Addressing these challenges requires a nuanced approach that safeguards children while promoting equitable medical care and family integrity.

Keywords: policing, parenting, mandated reporting