Target 8 is the investigative arm of Wood TV8 out of Grand Rapids in Kent County. The media group regularly investigates situations and individuals it believes may be overlooked by the public. This list includes nursing homes, insurance benefits, and in the case of one recent story – CPS‘s involvement in the lives of babies born with drug addictions.

According to the story, published just a few weeks ago, Child Protective Services has been openly criticized for their involvement in the lives of babies born with drugs in their systems. Or, more accurately, their lack of involvement. The issue, according to Target 8, came to light when they investigated how the state of Michigan handles babies who test positive for drugs at birth.

The investigation was inspired by the Office of Children’s Ombudsman, who claim that they had noticed a trend, in which drug-addicted babies were dying in higher numbers before their first birthdays. According to Tobin Miller, chief investigator at the Office of Children’s Ombudsman, this is often the result of unsafe sleep practices.

Sometimes, however, the cause of death is left undetermined. SIDS may be a factor, but the question was raised about whether or not there may be other reasons that are going unaccounted for. Target 8 decided to find out. As part of the story, they followed up on three infants, born in Kent County, who were addicted to drugs at birth, as a result of their mothers taking drugs during the pregnancy. All three infants were dead before they turned one.

Honesty Whiteside, born with THC from marijuana use, died when she was only 1 month old from an undetermined cause. Aundreyes Clecker, who also tested positive for THC at birth, was found dead, rolled in a blanket and far from where his parents and siblings last knew him to be. He was 9 months old at the time. The last baby investigated, Jaxon Denton, died of what investigators believe was positional asphyxia. In all three cases, the mother, or both parents, were struggling with substance abuse issues.

In all three cases, CPS was contacted after the babies tested positive for drugs. However, beyond conducting the standardised safety risk assessments to determine the level of risk to the child, they do not automatically open an investigation into every case. Miller says that perhaps CPS involvement may have meant a better chance of survival for these and other children. Child Protective Services, however, doesn’t agree.

Colin Parks, CPS state manager, spoke to Target 8 investigators and explained that the state doesn’t open a case on every family struggling with substance abuse that comes through the hospital to give birth. Drug addiction and substance abuse issues, he explains, do not automatically mean that a child will be neglected.
Join us next time, as we look at what this means for families struggling with substance abuse in Michigan, and what one Michigan Senator has decided needs to be done. Until then, if you need help dealing with a child abuse or neglect accusation, or if you are being investigated by CPS, contact us at 866-346-5879. Our skilled CPS defense attorneys have decades of experience keeping families together. We can help yours too.