Last updated on Nov. 25, 2025 at 09:38 p.m.
On Wednesday, the School of Social Work presented its 18th annual Brieland lecturer, professor of sociology at the University of California, Irvine, Kelley Fong.
Fong’s findings, which are based on extensive research and her book, stem from interviews with mothers, CPS social workers and mandated reporters across Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Her work uses both personal stories and data analysis to show how the system operates and impacts communities.
Child Protective Services investigates a substantial share of American families each year, a disproportionate number of whom are low-income or families of color. Most CPS investigations end without finding serious harm, but the system still leaves many mothers feeling unsettled.
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Fong began her lecture by stating that nationally, one in three children and one in two Black children will face a CPS investigation.
Yet, the vast majority of these cases close without finding abuse or neglect, and only 5% lead to a child being removed from home, Fong said.
“Mothers of color and low-income mothers are accustomed to systems just kind of batting them around, so they couldn’t necessarily count on CPS to handle their situation,” Fong said.
Fong went on to explain that CPS often feels like a threat that makes parenting feel like something that can be judged and taken away at any moment.
Ketsia Nzeza, a graduate student studying social work, said the discussion gave her a clearer picture of the realities she expects to face in her future career.
“I’m going to start off in (Department of Children and Family Services), child welfare for sure,” Nzeza said. “(The lecture) helped shape my thoughts just to know what I am getting into.”
Fong concluded the lecture by outlining three steps to shift away from the current system.
First, she stressed the need for critical thinking and support for all mandated reporters, arguing that CPS is too often used as a first resort for addressing family struggles.
Second, Fong called for new investments in support for families facing adversity. Fong states that these funds are necessary to reverse and remedy years of inequitable disinvestment in marginalized communities.
Third, Fong urged audience members to help cultivate more spaces where families can “shine.”
The goal, she argued, is to transition from an environment where motherhood feels like “walking a tightrope” to one characterized by trust, belonging and community support, offering more shine and less precarity.
For attendees like Monica Cherry, director of Student Affairs at the University, the lecture’s topic felt especially relevant, touching on challenges she has encountered firsthand.
“The population is one that is near and dear to my heart since I’ve worked with that population in the past,” Cherry said. “Despite the fact that I no longer work directly with the population, I continue to work to support them.”
Fong’s research provides a critical analysis of the CPS system and the widespread fear and distrust among marginalized families. Her findings challenge policymakers, social workers and communities to rethink child welfare and build systems where mothers feel supported, not attacked.
