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| Free-range parents found responsible for ‘unsubstantiated’ child neglect | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The Maryland parents who let their children walk home from a park in Silver Spring were found responsible for “unsubstantiated” child neglect in a decision that has not fully resolved their clash with authorities over their views on parenting and children’s safety. | The Maryland parents who let their children walk home from a park in Silver Spring were found responsible for “unsubstantiated” child neglect in a decision that has not fully resolved their clash with authorities over their views on parenting and children’s safety. |
| Danielle and Alexander Meitiv hoped the nationally debated case — which has lit up social media and brought a dozen television film crews to their home — would be dismissed after a two-month investigation by Montgomery County Child Protective Services. | Danielle and Alexander Meitiv hoped the nationally debated case — which has lit up social media and brought a dozen television film crews to their home — would be dismissed after a two-month investigation by Montgomery County Child Protective Services. |
| [Parents investigated for neglect after letting kids walk home alone] | [Parents investigated for neglect after letting kids walk home alone] |
| But the finding of unsubstantiated child neglect means CPS will keep a file on the family for at least five years and leaves open the question of what happens if the Meitiv children — ages 10 and 6 — get reported again for walking without adult supervision. | But the finding of unsubstantiated child neglect means CPS will keep a file on the family for at least five years and leaves open the question of what happens if the Meitiv children — ages 10 and 6 — get reported again for walking without adult supervision. |
| “We don’t feel it was appropriate for an investigation to start, much less conclude that we are responsible for some form of child neglect,” said Danielle Meitiv, who said she and her husband plan to appeal and worry about being investigated by CPS again. | “We don’t feel it was appropriate for an investigation to start, much less conclude that we are responsible for some form of child neglect,” said Danielle Meitiv, who said she and her husband plan to appeal and worry about being investigated by CPS again. |
| “What will happen next time?” she asked. “We don’t know if we will get caught in this Kafka-esque loop again.” | “What will happen next time?” she asked. “We don’t know if we will get caught in this Kafka-esque loop again.” |
| The case dates to Dec. 20, when police picked up the Meitivs’ two children after someone reported them walking to their home from Woodside Park on a Saturday afternoon. The family said they gradually let the pair take walks on their own and that their children knew the area, along busy Georgia Avenue. | The case dates to Dec. 20, when police picked up the Meitivs’ two children after someone reported them walking to their home from Woodside Park on a Saturday afternoon. The family said they gradually let the pair take walks on their own and that their children knew the area, along busy Georgia Avenue. |
| The Meitivs said they would not have allowed the 1-mile outing if they did not feel their children were ready for it. The children made it about halfway home. | The Meitivs said they would not have allowed the 1-mile outing if they did not feel their children were ready for it. The children made it about halfway home. |
| Their CPS decision letter, dated Feb. 20, said the investigation had been completed and would be closed. It cited a finding of unsubstantiated child neglect and made note of an appeals process. | Their CPS decision letter, dated Feb. 20, said the investigation had been completed and would be closed. It cited a finding of unsubstantiated child neglect and made note of an appeals process. |
| Montgomery County Child Protective Services officials referred calls Monday to state officials. Paula Tolson, spokeswoman for the Maryland Department of Human Resources, said the state cannot comment on specific cases because of confidentiality requirements. | Montgomery County Child Protective Services officials referred calls Monday to state officials. Paula Tolson, spokeswoman for the Maryland Department of Human Resources, said the state cannot comment on specific cases because of confidentiality requirements. |
| Tolson said as a general practice CPS officials in Maryland reach one of three possible findings after neglect investigations: ruled out, unsubstantiated or indicated. | Tolson said as a general practice CPS officials in Maryland reach one of three possible findings after neglect investigations: ruled out, unsubstantiated or indicated. |
| An unsubstantiated finding is typically made when CPS has some information supporting a conclusion of child neglect, or when seemingly credible reports are at odds with each other, or when there is insufficient information for a more definitive conclusion, she said. | An unsubstantiated finding is typically made when CPS has some information supporting a conclusion of child neglect, or when seemingly credible reports are at odds with each other, or when there is insufficient information for a more definitive conclusion, she said. |
| Tolson said a conference involving a CPS supervisor is the first step of the appeals process in cases of unsubstantiated neglect. It can often resolve some issues, she said. | Tolson said a conference involving a CPS supervisor is the first step of the appeals process in cases of unsubstantiated neglect. It can often resolve some issues, she said. |
| Asked how authorities would respond if the children were reported to CPS again for walking unsupervised, she said: “If we get a call from law enforcement or from a citizen, we are required to investigate. Our goal is the safety of children, always.” | Asked how authorities would respond if the children were reported to CPS again for walking unsupervised, she said: “If we get a call from law enforcement or from a citizen, we are required to investigate. Our goal is the safety of children, always.” |
| The Meitivs said they received the letter last week and consulted with a lawyer before speaking publicly. | The Meitivs said they received the letter last week and consulted with a lawyer before speaking publicly. |
| Meitiv said when she opened the letter last week, she at first felt numb. As she reread it, she said she turned to her husband and said: “Oh my God, they really believe we did something wrong.” | Meitiv said when she opened the letter last week, she at first felt numb. As she reread it, she said she turned to her husband and said: “Oh my God, they really believe we did something wrong.” |
| “I was kind of horrified,” she said, adding: “You try as a parent to do what’s right. Parents try so hard. Even though I know they are wrong, it’s a painful judgment.” | “I was kind of horrified,” she said, adding: “You try as a parent to do what’s right. Parents try so hard. Even though I know they are wrong, it’s a painful judgment.” |
| Meitiv said that while the terminology of being “found responsible” for “unsubstantiated child neglect” is difficult to interpret, she and her husband do not feel they have been cleared. She said she finds the decision inconceivable. | Meitiv said that while the terminology of being “found responsible” for “unsubstantiated child neglect” is difficult to interpret, she and her husband do not feel they have been cleared. She said she finds the decision inconceivable. |
| “There’s no question this is some kind of finding against us,” she said. “Regardless of what type of adjective they want to put in front of it, we have been found responsible for some form of neglect, and we are in no way negligent parents.” | “There’s no question this is some kind of finding against us,” she said. “Regardless of what type of adjective they want to put in front of it, we have been found responsible for some form of neglect, and we are in no way negligent parents.” |
| The Meitivs, both scientists by training, embrace a “free-range” philosophy of parenting, believing that children learn self-reliance by being allowed to make choices, build independence and progressively experience the world on their own. | The Meitivs, both scientists by training, embrace a “free-range” philosophy of parenting, believing that children learn self-reliance by being allowed to make choices, build independence and progressively experience the world on their own. |
| They say they have let their children walk together to a park a block away, to a nearby 7-Eleven and to a library three-quarters of a mile from their house. | They say they have let their children walk together to a park a block away, to a nearby 7-Eleven and to a library three-quarters of a mile from their house. |
| “I resent being accused of negligence for parenting in a way I feel is appropriate for my children,” she said. | “I resent being accused of negligence for parenting in a way I feel is appropriate for my children,” she said. |
| The free-range movement goes back to 2008, when New York journalist Lenore Skenazy wrote a piece titled “Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone,” which sparked intense debate about parenting and risks to children. | The free-range movement goes back to 2008, when New York journalist Lenore Skenazy wrote a piece titled “Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone,” which sparked intense debate about parenting and risks to children. |
| CPS officials have previously said they were guided in part by a state law that says children younger than 8 must be left with a reliable person who is at least 13. The law addresses children locked or confined in a building, dwelling, motor vehicle or other enclosed space. | CPS officials have previously said they were guided in part by a state law that says children younger than 8 must be left with a reliable person who is at least 13. The law addresses children locked or confined in a building, dwelling, motor vehicle or other enclosed space. |
| Meitiv said she continues to follow her own beliefs about what is safe for her children. With school closed for a snow day Monday and the weather warming, she said it is quite possible that the pair will play together outdoors, without a parent standing by. | Meitiv said she continues to follow her own beliefs about what is safe for her children. With school closed for a snow day Monday and the weather warming, she said it is quite possible that the pair will play together outdoors, without a parent standing by. |
| “It’s a beautiful day; they’re home from school,” she said. Playing outside “is exactly what kids should do.” | “It’s a beautiful day; they’re home from school,” she said. Playing outside “is exactly what kids should do.” |
| Read more: Neglect inquiry shines spotlight on ‘free-range’ parenting Why are we criminalizing childhood independence? When letting your kids out of your sight becomes a crime Parents investigated for neglect after letting kids walk home alone | Read more: Neglect inquiry shines spotlight on ‘free-range’ parenting Why are we criminalizing childhood independence? When letting your kids out of your sight becomes a crime Parents investigated for neglect after letting kids walk home alone |