Families’ point of view about the action of Child Protective Services in child abuse situations

Abstract

Introduction: Child Protective Services (CPS) guarantees rights of Brazilian children and
adolescents as its main role. In case of violence, CPS responds to protection of them. However, many professionals and citizens still consider children and adolescents protective services as coercive and punitive agencies.
Objective: We intend to report family experiences concerning the contact with CPS due
to child and adolescents abuse.
Methods: We interviewed 30 persons responsible for the children and adolescents, who
were present during the meeting in CPS, agency responsible for following the family of children or adolescents victims of violence. They contacted with CPS due to this problem. We also analyzed the content of transcribed material.
Results: Family orientation was the most frequent action of CPS. Interviewees reported
positive experiences, such as: reception and emotional support; clarification of doubts; teamwork with health institution and guarantee of children and adolescents’ rights. They also reported negative experiences, such as: non-achievement of family’s demands; disagreement about decision-making of CPS; professional’s inappropriate attitudes; feeling of impotence due to CPS’s decisions; difficulties of work process and obscureness in the institutional roles of service network.
Conclusions: There are two different reactions of persons responsible for the children and
adolescents in the face of decision-making of CPS. It is important that health professionals
reinforce positives aspects of protection actions for children and adolescents, and of support
for the families. It is also relevant improving CPS teamwork.