By Valerie L’Herrou

Every April, Virginia and the nation observe “Child Abuse Prevention Month.” At VPLC, we call it “Supporting Families Month,” because often, what harms children isn’t abuse—it’s policy choices that leave families without support.

Child abuse is rare. In fact, over half the calls to Child Protective Services (CPS) turn out to be invalid; only a small number of investigations find any abuse or neglect. Still, thousands of families—especially Black families—are subjected to traumatic investigations. Studies show 53% of Black children in the U.S. will be investigated by CPS at some point.

Most reports to CPS are for “neglect.” But often, “neglect” is not for lack of love and care, but poverty—families without stable access to food, water, housing, healthcare, electricity, childcare. This is sometimes called “poverty-adjacent neglect.” In reality, it’s “neglect-adjacent poverty”: making it hard for parents to meet their children’s needs.

Are we doing more harm than good?

People report families to CPS hoping to help—when they see a child who is dirty, or without childcare—or when a family is evicted from their home. But unwarranted investigations are harmful and can lead to family separations that inflict long-lasting damage. Brain scans of adults separated as children have shown that the harm of separation lasts for decades—often exceeding any trauma experienced at home.

The National Institute for Children’s Health Quality warns that interventions meant to help often cause unintentional harm—especially to Black families. Human Rights Watch notes that poverty is often misread as neglect. Removing a child, even briefly, can have lifelong consequences. The National Council of Juvenile & Family Court Judges adds that mistaking poverty for neglect drives much of the system’s racial and economic bias.

Mandated Reporting and Misinformation

Many professionals are “mandated reporters” who fear legal consequences if they don’t report suspected abuse or neglect. As a result, some report even the mildest concerns, just in case. But this causes harm rather than help.

In Los Angeles County, 65% of mandated reporters said they contacted CPS not because of suspected abuse, but because they believed it was the best way to get families the help they needed. This highlights a dangerous misconception: CPS is not a support agency—it’s an investigative one.

Traumatic—and Expensive

Removing children is both harmful and costly. Virginia spends nearly $400 million a year on foster care. Children in the system often face worse outcomes: interrupted education, justice system involvement, and substance use. We could save money and reduce trauma by supporting families to meet children’s needs at home, and to make the decisions that are best for them.

Many CPS agencies separate children from their families unfairly, without providing services to reunify. Separating families unnecessarily, or not timely reunifying them, is unfair to both parent and child, a recent report found.

There is a better way: Mandated Supporting

We can choose a different approach—one that supports rather than punishes families.

When communities act as supporters instead of reporters, outcomes improve. In schools that installed washing machines for students, absenteeism (often reported as neglect) dropped by 60%, and academic performance improved. The American Federation of Teachers found that helping families meet basic needs—like food, hygiene, and supervision—led to dramatic improvements in children’s well-being.

In LA County, shifting to a “you don’t have to report to support” model helped reduce unnecessary investigations. Their “Family Resource Finder” connects families to food, housing aid, school-based healthcare, mentorship, clothing closets, and after-school programs.

What You Can Do

Instead of calling CPS when a child appears dirty or hungry, ask: What does this family need? Maybe they just need help paying a water bill, or accessing childcare. Connect families to community support systems—legal aid, food pantries, mutual aid groups, and family resource centers.

Yes, Virginia, there is a better way

We must respect families’ dignity and support them in raising their children at home. If separation occurs, we must ensure families get the resources they need to reunite quickly.

At VPLC, we advocate for policies that empower families—through access to food, housing, legal help, childcare, and healthcare. We push for economic reforms that break the cycle of poverty. For example, every $1 increase in minimum wage reduces CPS calls by 10%.

Virginia is making progress—improving access to childcare and healthcare, and raising wages. But we can’t stop now. We must end harmful systems that criminalize poverty and replace them with support systems that help families thrive.  Join us in protecting children by supporting families.

Valerie L’Herrou is the deputy director for the Center for Family Advocacy at Virginia Poverty Law Center in Richmond.

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