I don’t disagree with the general spirit of what you’re saying, but as a former teacher the observations that fall under Mandatory Reporting are fairly specific. Additionally, I know more than one CPS worker on a personal basis and the types of things that get a child removed from the house are religious and severe. Nothing that you have said would cause me to call in a report unless your kid showed up to class with signs of violence on their body. The stories that get reported on are reported because they are exceptional, not normal. I lived a property less, transient lifestyle for years before settling in a place. I don’t write this to change your mind, but to respond in kind.
Yeah I agree there are people all over the board as far as their interpretations. I have family in healthcare and teaching. I believe most of the mandatory reporters are reasonable and possibly even willing to violate the law as they know the foster system is often even worse than living with even a physically abuse parent, but unfortunately the parent and child come into contact with a LOT of reporters over the years and thus they must optimize for the very worst of the ones they will encounter rather than the most reasonable.
Two thirds of black families in my county are investigated. My family have coworkers that explicitly state they will mandatory report things like a parent seeking health care to reduce their substance use.
