https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rybB11kZ3Po
Child protective services (“CPS”) recently visited the seven-year-old star of TLC’s Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, Alana Thompson. The controversial show depicts the life of a young child on the pageant circle. However, despite the glamorous style of a pageant princess, Alana’s family is always cutting corners to make ends meet. While many viewers criticize the show as “offensive” and “exploitative,” it managed to garner 2.2 million viewers. The show caught the attention of CPS with “go go juice.” Go go juice is a concoction created by Alana’s mother, June. It consists of Mountain Dew, and Red Bull. While under the “influence” of go go juice, YouTube videos surfaced of Alana dancing on a table at a bar for dollar bills.
June defended her daughter’s behavior by saying “at least it [the bar] wasn’t one of those sleazy ones.” The child abuse charges were eventually dropped after the court appointed June an attorney. Although it is not unusual for children in the rural part of Georgia, where the Thompson family lives, to consume road kill or eat junk food exclusively, CPS was concerned about Alana dancing on a bar table for money. Neighbors scrutinized the Thompson lifestyle long before Here Comes Honey Boo Boo aired; however, the visit from CPS really raised eyebrows in the neighborhood.
Fortunately, in Alana’s case, the court found no reason to continue investigating the Thompson family. Under California Family Code section 3020, “the legislature finds and declares that it is the public policy of this state to assure that the health, safety, and welfare of children shall be the court’s primary concern when making any orders regarding the physical or legal custody or visitation of children.” The overriding concern of the family court system is the best interest of the child and any domestic violence in a household where a child resides or child abuse is detrimental to a child. Under California Family Code section 3027, the court has the ability to take temporary steps to protect children while further investigation is conducted. Not only does the court have the ability to issue restraining orders but also it may request that the local child welfare services agency conduct an investigation.
Judges are not the only people who can engage child welfare services to investigate the welfare of a child. In San Diego, any person can call the child abuse hotline and provide a referral to a Hotline social worker who will do an immediate assessment of the referral. If this social worker determines that a child is at risk, a social worker is assigned to investigate the situation. In particularly dangerous cases, the social worker and/or enforcement officer may visit the home within a few hours of receiving the referral.
Please contact us if you are considering a divorce from your spouse, a legal separation, or have questions regarding child custody and visitation. Nancy J. Bickford is the only attorney in San Diego County representing clients in divorces, who is a Certified Family Law Specialist (CFLS) and who is actively licensed as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Don’t settle for less when determining your rights. Call 858-793-8884 in Del Mar, Carmel Valley, North County or San Diego.