I came across @familyprotection and the amazing work it is doing about some months back and I was really amazed as well as pleased with the work it is doing. Services like CPS do not function like they do in the U.S., U.K. and other developed countries. In fact, there isn't a proper government run CPS here. Before I became aware of the harms CPS is inflicting on people and their families, I used to wish for such agencies to function here because there are some kids who need to be rescued from toxic guardians and need to be better taken care of here. However, after becoming aware of the true picture of CPS, I was appalled to my core and was happy that such service isn't here because that means that kids from loving families and guardians wouldn't be taken away from them.
I haven't written much under the @familyprotection tag, but I try to support good and genuine posts written for the cause as much as I can and I do read posts related to it. A few days back, I came across this post by @markwhittam wherein he had invited all of us to think of ideas to support and grow @familyprotection as well as build a network of strong people who can fend off attacks by the CPS. I kept thinking of it for a long time, thinking of ideas that can help the cause and ways through which people can effectively combat CPS. Here are my views on the topic. I hope this helps.
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Creating More Awareness among the Masses
First of all, I think more awareness needs to be created on the topic all across the globe, but the focus at first should be in all those countries and areas the CPS is most active in and where the CPS has created the most chaos. It is best to start with baby steps. We should try locating some people in one region or locality who have been affected by the harms of CPS and then take their help to spread awareness among the masses. @familyprotection should get connected to them and ask them to share their story online. Also, they should be educated on how to talk to others about the topic because one needs to be very careful while discussing this issue with others. There are always people who support the CPS and have a mentality that matches there so one needs to approach this topic carefully. These families should reach out to more people and hold small gatherings in the community where they discuss how CPS affected them and also show support to all those who feel are vulnerable to the harms of the CPS and may get a knock on the door by them.
I believe a lot of the issues get buried and are never addressed because of a lack of communication so if we start to talk more on the topic, we can get people to share their views and concerns related to it and open up on the issue.
Use the Print Medium
Next, I think flyers and brochures addressing the issue should be created and distributed in different areas to educate more people on the topic and to reach out to as many as possible. They should give details on what the CPS is, what it does and what it should actually be doing, how many families it has negatively affected and stories of people who have suffered at the hands of CPS.
Have a Database, Website and Social Media Accounts
I think educating people would be easier if there was a separate website dedicated to @familyprotection. There should be a database on it that contains all the names and statistics and information related to all the people affected by CPS and how it cleverly took away their loves from them. This would help people easily go through the data related to their region and see how active the CPS has been in their area. There should be people hired to keep the site updated, maintained and up and running at all times so people can access it easily. Also, it should be user-friendly and translated in Spanish and other language depending on the types of users accessing the site.
Moreover, there should be social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook and even Instagram for @familyprotection. I know Insta is all about posting cute photos and attractive images, but it has a great following and I believe a cause as important as @familyprotection should be highlighted there too.
Encourage People to Support One Another
I think an extremely important thing that all of us need to do at this time of need is to support one another. I have seen people in movies call the CPS the minute they hear a child crying from a home or when they see a parent spanking a kid or when they fear a family is having a tough time financially. It is these acts often that get the CPS become aware of a vulnerable family and then tear them apart completely. I think people need to understand that often their help of 'this' sort is not what the family needs.
People need to understand that if they see a child not being treated nicely in a family or they fear he/ she is begin harmed, they need to reach out to the family. Honestly, if there isn't any sort of abuse going on in the family, the parents/ guardians are likely to open up about their actual issues. Do not bring up the topic instantly. Instead, ask them about what's going in their life. If you have seen a child cry a lot and have seen his father give him a spanking, ask him if his child is okay and then gradually bring up his spanking his child. Maybe it is just a bad habit that he needs to work on and he actually does love his son a lot.
Observe the family for a while and if you fear something wrong is going on, get connected to @familyprotection or its ambassadors in the area or if there is nobody related to @familyprotection there, then talk to an expert on the topic, but do not just run to the CPS right away.
I think for that, it is important that who so ever comes across posts by @familyprotection should resteem them and spread awareness about them so more people can join on in the cause. Also, @familyprotection should create its ambassadors-people from Steemit who spread the word around about the cause and talk to more people about it. There are lots of communities built by people here such as @thealliance, @ecotrain, @thesteemengine, @steemiteducation and so on. I am quite sure that at least one person from every community knows about @familyprotection. These people need to spread more word about the cause in their communities and can work closely with @familyprotection to help find out more people who have been burned by CPS. This will take some time, but I guess we have to start somewhere so it is best that we start doing something right now and stop worrying about the time it will take to yield good results.
Donate More to the Cause
As much as we'd like to deny that, but money is needed to get things done so the more donations @familyprotection gets, the better it can work for the rights of families suffering from the harm of CPS. I know giving away as little as 5SBD right away can seem difficult for some people, but if you put 1SBD aside for the cause every week, you will have 4 to 5 SBDs in a month and can donate it to the cause. I am going to do this from today onward and help the community grow as much as I can.
I hope my suggestion will be of some help to the cause and I ask all of you to put your thinking cap on to find some good suggestions for the cause. Thank you for your love and support.
Love and light,
Sharoon.
I am running a writing contest with 5SBD up for grabs for the winner so if any of you would like to participate in it, click on the following link:
Shary's Writing Prompt Contest #1
Here are some of my articles that may interest you:
Why is it so Hard to Apologize for Your Own Wrongdoings??
Confessions of a People Pleaser...
To Sleep or Not to Sleep, that is the Question....
Parents- Guiding Lights or Dictators?
One Smile and a Deep Breath to Quickly Fight Stress
Why I am Grateful for My Hardships...
Why Do We Attach Unnecessary Meaning to Everything??
Why is it Okay to Be a Little Selfish, Focus on Your Needs and Communicate them to Loved Ones
Batman & Jesus: Why do we fear debate?
My Scar Stories- Reminders of Many Different Memories
I am a part of the wonderful @ecotrain that aims to make this world a better place so do join it if that's your aim too..