Thank you @stay-in-the-gray for sharing and many blessings to you, your family and special hugs to your little girl. Unfortunately this happens all too often as you know.

I once had a volunteer that came in to help at a thrift store I was managing. She came in quite regular, was pleasant and loved her 3 kids dearly. It took weeks before we heard what she had been and was still going through. She was too afraid to tell anyone because she felt people would think less of her or that she was a bad mother. (which she was not a bad mom at all)

CPS had taken her children at the request basically from her ex-in-laws that were trying to settle a score. She had been jumping through the hoops and following their "orders". When she finally opened up to us at the store CPS was in the process of returning the children and we were all excited, relieved and happy for her.

The next week however with an unannounced home visit early in the morning while trying to get 2 of her children off to school the "CPS enforcer" noticed that she had cooked the kids' oatmeal in a cast iron skillet. (who would have thought that should be any area of concern) but alas, it opened up a whole can of worms and threats were to take her children again.

Very thankful she had opened up to us and we were now "in the know" and armed with many copies of the benefits of cooking with cast iron and new friends in tow it settled them down and they backed off.

My point being is that many parents are afraid to come forward and let others know. This is also a fear put into them by the powers that should not be. We may have a tough road ahead of us, but as Margaret Mead said: It only takes a small group of committed people to change the world. (something close to that anyway)

Thank you @stay-in-the-gray for coming forward and sharing. Have resteemed of course.