Michigan Stepmother and Father Say CPS System Is Failing Their Family
Couple alleges lack of coordination between counties and delayed responses from Kent County CPS put child’s safety at risk.
Jessica Roberts and her husband say they’ve spent the past year and a half raising concerns to Child Protective Services (CPS) about potential abuse and neglect involving a 3-year-old child shared with the child’s biological mother — but feel the system has failed to take action.
Speaking in an interview, Roberts, a healthcare worker and mandated reporter, says the child often returns from visits with the mother showing bruises that appear abnormal. “We understand the difference between regular bruises and ones that are shaped like fingerprints,” Roberts said, referencing multiple instances she says were documented and reported.
The child, according to Roberts, resides primarily in Kent County with his mother, although both parents share joint legal and physical custody. Roberts and her husband live in St. Joseph County. They claim St. Joseph CPS workers have taken their concerns seriously, while Kent County has allegedly delayed responses or disregarded reports. “It took them two weeks to follow up once — by then the bruises were gone,” Roberts said.
The couple says the child has also returned with untreated medical issues, such as a prolonged facial rash and unfinished prescriptions. They also allege inconsistencies in custody compliance and communication between counties. “CPS needs to communicate better,” Roberts said. “One county listens. One doesn't seem to care.”
Complicating matters, the child’s mother has accused the father of physical abuse. A recent CPS report claimed the father punched the child — an accusation the couple firmly denies, citing witness accounts and photographic documentation. “He had no bruises. Nothing that showed any abuse,” Roberts said.
The couple says they’ve been falsely accused before and investigated but were never charged with any crimes. Now, they say the court system leans heavily on the word of CPS workers and often places the burden of proof on fathers. “You're guilty until proven innocent,” Roberts claimed.
A custody hearing is scheduled for July, and the couple hopes for a resolution that prioritizes the child's well-being. “We’re not trying to take him away from his mom,” Roberts said. “We just want someone to listen and make sure he’s safe.”
Kent County CPS was not immediately available for comment.