In a post shared by a parent in the Family Forward Project, a milestone birthday was met with something far heavier than joy it was met with relief. The post read:

“My oldest child turned 18 today. The relief I felt knowing we never have to worry about CPS again is immeasurable. No one should have to live like this when they’ve never done a single thing wrong.”

A System That Punishes Without Proof

Child Protective Services was designed to protect children. But too often, it has become a weapon wielded with more assumption than evidence. Innocent families, particularly those in marginalized communities, find themselves monitored, investigated, or even separated based on bias, miscommunication, or anonymous calls that lack verification.

What happens when you live every day afraid that a knock on your door could mean the end of your family as you know it?

You stop parenting freely. You stop trusting. And you start surviving instead of living.

Why Parents Are Living in Fear

For many, just one false accusation just one misunderstanding is all it takes to lose your child. Due process is not guaranteed. Investigations may lack transparency. And reunification efforts can be vague or nonexistent. Families are often forced to prove their innocence without ever being formally charged with wrongdoing.

This isn’t child protection. It’s institutional overreach.

What Turning 18 Means for These Families

When a child turns 18 in a family that’s been targeted by CPS, it can feel like the end of a battle. Not because the family did anything wrong, but because they finally aged out of a system that made them feel unsafe for years.

Imagine that: not celebrating adulthood, but celebrating survival.

This Shouldn’t Be Normal

No parent should feel like their child’s safety depends on avoiding notice. No family should breathe easier only when the state can no longer intervene. We must ask: what are we doing as a society when fear of the system outweighs trust in it?

Where Do We Go From Here?

If stories like this resonate with you, know that you’re not alone. It’s time to:

• Raise awareness about how CPS oversteps in certain communities
• Push for reforms that guarantee due process and transparency for families
• Support legislation that reinforces parental rights like the model Florida just launched
• Share your story, just like this parent did, to shed light on how common and heartbreaking this experience is

Let’s Change That

The system was never meant to be feared. It was meant to protect. Until it can do that fairly, families will continue to suffer in silence.

Let your voice be heard. Speak up. Demand justice. And never stop advocating for the right to raise your children free from fear.