I have to add something to what Nikki has said in her post. I have never 
been "sicced" on anyone to investigate a claim called in, because I am NOT 
an employee of DCF/CPS. If a claim is called in, that's up to DCF to check 
out. I am only sent out where there is medical need (whether I am sent my 
DCF or the medical doctor, or on a referral from the particular hospital). 
I would never be sent to assess a home situation (and obviously the safety 
of the environment for the baby and mother)unless there was just cause for 
someone medical to be involved. I follow babies whose mothers have been 
substance abusers, babies who don't gain weight, babies who have been 
removed from their parents and are in foster care, preemies, babies with 
feeding problems (including lactation issues), babies at risk (medically) 
because of domestic violence, babies of parents who are homeless (if they 
get to take the baby at all)or in some other way unable to care properly 
for the infant, and/or babies whose parents' insurance gives them a number 
of well visits.Our medicaid patients have just as much access to home care 
as do those with private medical insurance.

I think sometimes, the general feeling about DCF(or CPS) is that 
they "take babies away." That is often NOT the case at all. Often these 
agencies work very hard to keep families together and if my services can 
help that to happen so much the better. The only paperwork my clients do 
is the insurance form that the parent signs, stating the HIPPA laws that 
bind my agency and the fact that we are charging their insurance X amout 
of dollars per visit. I am in the home for a medical indication only and 
when I see that all is well from my perspective I am out. 

That's what I do as a public health nurse. That's all.
Betsy Riedel RNC, IBCLC

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