More Information About Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)
Have you learned all you need to know before deciding whether to join?
Homeschoolers and Social Services
Some materials published by the Home School Legal Defense
Association (HSLDA) include frightening scenarios that depict
homeschoolers being threatened by agents of Social Services. But what
are the chances that a homeschooling family would ever have contact
with Social Services? Does HSLDA truly offer any real protection?
And what other resources are available?
ACCURATE STATISTICS?
The Home School Legal Defense Association's July/August 2001 Court Report includes lists of the organization's "Top 10" for number of contact with CPS (Child Protective Services). It shows families in Virginia having 18.37 CPS contacts per 100 HSLDA members between February 2000 and January 2001 (although it does not specify whether the "contacts" were between CPS and members, or members' contacts with HSLDA--such as from those asking for information about CPS). That equals about one in 5.4. If these figures are accurate, an astonishingly high number of HSLDA members are contacted by CPS.
FRIGHTENING SCENARIOS
"What Parents Should Know About Child Welfare Agencies" was the title of a presentation at the October 23, 2024 HSLDA Support Group Seminar in Richmond, VA. HSLDA attorney Scott Woodruff related stores of CPS workers and assorted law officers forcing their way into people's homes, then claiming they were admitted voluntarily. He told a horror story of a family whose children were clued in, by CPS questioners, to the possibilities of child sexual abuse.
Accompanying this frightening talk was the 16 page "Dealing With Social Services Contacts" section of the Seminar workbook. The first page of that section begins with: "More and more frequently, home schoolers are turned in on child abuse hotlines to social services agencies"
The seminar workbook also includes a 5 page publication titled "What Is HSLDA?" which starts with, "A truant officer is at the door. He pushes his way in. He will not leave until he can take your children to the public school. What can you do?
"A police officer is at your door with an arrest warrant to take your six year-old child. Who can you call?
"The local public school official insists that your home school arrangement is not legal and threatens you with criminal charges. Where can you get help
fast?
"The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) is the answer..."
What could possibly frighten dedicated parents more than the belief that their children could be seized by an unfeeling government agency?
HOWEVER:
A glaring contradiction to the implied risk to homeschoolers
was revealed when, during Mr. Woodruff's talk, another HSLDA attorney, David
Gordon (who recently left the organization), piped up from the back of the room.
Mr. Gordon said, "Out of the 60,000 members, if I got 1 call a day [about CPS
problems]--about 200 per year-- which I don't, that would equal only 1/3 of
1% of members. Nobody here should be afraid. Most [CPS] reports come through
public schools. Nine out of ten end up unfounded or unsubstantiated."
Via subsequent private E-mails, it seemed Mr. Gordon's assertion was supported
by Scott Woodruff and HSLDA founder Michael Farris.
When HSLDA attorney Scott Woodruff was asked about CPS contacts, he wrote, "the
likelihood of this [a homeschooling family being reported to CPS] happening
to any one family is small, but since the impact can be devastating, everyone
should have accurate background information."
In an e-mail letter written in January of 2000, responding to questions about
the rate that homeschoolers in general, and HSLDA members in particular are
investigated by CPS, Michael Farris wrote that HSLDA does not "keep specific
centralized data on each contact," but he addressed the topic in a general fashion,
stating that "Most home school families will go through their entire child-rearing
years with no contact whatsoever from social services. It is impossible for
us to say with any accuracy what the percentages would be, but it is not insignificant--that
is some number approaching zero."
"...less than 1% of our...member families have been investigated on an annual basis." - J. Michael Smith, current president of HSLDA, interview at The Old School House Magazine, 2002
"One of the most frequent problems facing innocent homeschool families in Virginia is that of social worker investigations based on anonymous tips." -HSLDA bulletin on HB2831, January 28, 2024
"HSLDA handles literally hundreds of social services
contacts each year. Our most recent statistics show that from July 2002 through
June 2003, we received 815 calls from homeschooling families facing a social
services investigation. That's an average of 68 calls per month, more than two
calls per day, including weekends" -HSLDA
article on Crosswalk.com October 1, 2024
Which is it? Less than 1/3 of 1%, as asserted by Mr. Gordon, or Mike Smith's
"less than 1%," or the bulletin's "one of the most frequent problems,"
or "not...some number approaching zero," as claimed by Mr. Farris, or the 68
calls per month, or the 18.37% depicted in HSLDA's Court Report?
WHERE IS THE BENEFIT?
According to HSLDA's on-line membership tour, the organization will help "members
through the initial stages of child abuse and neglect investigations. We
remain involved in follow-up litigation if home schooling is an issue."
This assurance is vague, and there is no legal contract binding the organization to represent you.
HSLDA's application form requires prospectie members to state whether they have "been
investigated for or charged with child abuse, neglect, or any other
related charges within the past 5 years," and, if so, directs the applicant to "explain
when the investigation occurred, if there was a finding of abuse or
neglect, and if it has been fully resolved," and "send copies of any court documents attached to your application."
Interestingly, the form lists requirements of the members, but doesn't say what HSLDA will do for them--only what it won't. Where is the benefit in membership if HSLDA does do not guarantee it will do anything?
Resources and Information on Social Services:
Virginia Child Protective Services
State Statutes on Child Abuse and Neglect
CPS Watch
Children's Rights Advocacy
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Child Abuse and Neglect Statistics
Tips for Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect
Prevent Child Abuse America
Parents Anonymous Helps Break the Cycle of Abuse
Find Child Protective Services Information for Your State
What to Do if You are Contacted by a Child Protective Agency
Do's and Don'ts when Falsely Accused
A very informative, free book:
Making Reasonable Efforts: Steps for Keeping Families Together
by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, Child Welfare League of America, Youth Law Center, and National Center for Youth Law.
Send self addressed mailing label to:
Office of Communications
Edna McConnell Clark Foundation
250 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10177-0026
"Generally 20-30% of the reporters are from the school system."
-Betty Zarris,
Virginia CPS Policy Consultant
(804) 692-1220
"Homeschoolers are not targeted by CPS in Virginia. Home schooling is not considered a risk factor."
-B. Zarris,
Virginia CPS Policy Consultant
(804) 692-1220
"Homeschooling is not viewed as an indication of risk of abuse and/or neglect."
-Alice F. Koenig, Virginia CPS Program Consultant
Help Support this Site by Using Affiliate Program:
Spanking is not child abuse.
-Edwin H. Schuster, Child Protective Services Program Specialist
VA Department of Social Services
Most [CPS] reports come through public schools. Nine out of ten end up unfounded or unsubstantiated.
" -HSLDA attorney David Gordon, HSLDA Support Group Seminar, October 23, 2024
"The likelihood of this [a homeschooling family being reported to CPS] happening to any one family is small, but...everyone should have accurate background information."
-HSLDA attorney Scott Woodruff, private e-mail to the author
"Most home school families will go through their entire child-rearing years with no contact whatsoever from social services."
-Michael Farris, HSLDA founder, private e-mail to author
"Organizations that sell CPS insurance are selling something based on fear. Instead of buying into it you should inform yourself and understand your rights."
-Edwin H. Schuster, Child Protective Services Program Specialist, VA Department of Social Services
In Virginia, families contacted by CPS have a right to:
ask the CPS worker for positive ID
know the nature of the complaint
refuse entry to the CPS worker (but the investigation will continue)
refuse to show the CPS worker any part of your home
ask the CPS representative to come back at another time, to meet in a neutral location, or to wait for the arrival of a trusted individual
ask the CPS employee to leave at any time
file an appeal before the finding is determined
the right to appeal after a finding is made
If you're following the state's homeschool requirements, CPS is not going to get involved because of homeschooling.
--Edwin H. Schuster, Child Protective Services Program Specialist, VA Department of Social Services
"Virginia has no definition of educational neglect."
--Edwin H. Schuster, Child Protective Services Program Specialist, VA Department of Social Services
