Are Child Protection Agencies the Heroes they Purport to be?

How is everyone doing today? How's your family? Kindly allow me to take a detour from posting recipes to talk about an issue that has overwhelmingly touched my heart. You see I recently came across #familyprotection tag and was shocked and saddened by some of the posts I read. Why? Well, the forum raises global awareness on how Child Protection agencies have in the past and continually tear up families unjustly.

Several individuals that have in one way or another been affected by this crude system boldly continue to share their stories on the platform. And the few stories I've read brought me to tears. I mean my parents' love has been so impactful in my life that I can't imagine where I would be if I grew up without them. Similarly, of the pain they would have been subjected to had someone wrongfully decided to take my siblings and I from them and called it justice.

No one should have that kind of power, but the system does. And it's not a fair fight, most parents if not all cannot afford to pay for good legal representation. So most cases end the same, in favor of Child Protection Services. As a result, families are separated for life, decades, years etc, but even if it were just for days or maybe even hours, it is trauma no caring parents and their children should ever have to go through.

I do, however, completely understand and respect the need for Child Protection agencies as there are a few scenarios that would call for placing a child in a better environment. However, one must ask the question, what of the times these agencies were wrong? What then? I'll tell you what, we speak out, we enlighten each other, we support each other, and more importantly, we fight FOR each other NOT each other.

I mean why wait until you are a victim or until someone you love falls prey to this injustice to do something? I am not asking to march to the streets with banners shouting and screaming. No, but lend a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, and share words of hope with people the system failed. You just might help someone overcome emotional trauma such as depression, guilt, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) etc.

We may not know these victims in person, I don't know any. However, we know that they are parents looking to get their children back and children hoping to reunite with parents after many years. I don't know about you, but that's enough for me to know I stand with them against the system that wrongfully brought them so much agony.

So, guys, other than recipes I will henceforth be covering several family protection issues from time to time. It is something I feel passionate about, speaking for and with the voiceless as we try to overturn a corrupt system. Join me and hundreds of others in this movement and let's rub off the 'in' in injustice together!

• Licensed images used