My First Call to CPS

A chance encounter at a beach town playground exposed a heartbreaking reality—and a broken child welfare system unwilling to act.

Last week, I was on vacation with my family in a beach town. We’re not really “beach people,” but we still spent several mornings and afternoons seaside, day after day. By the fourth afternoon, we needed a change of scenery. I’d noticed a playground on our drive into town and decided to take my five kids there instead of back to the beach. My husband, Seth, stayed behind with our 10-year-old, who was understandably done baking in the 85-degree heat.