WASHINGTON — Agencies like DC’s Child & Family Services investigate reports of abuse and aim to protect the well-being of children, but some believe it might be instilling fear of separation into the families it is obligated to protect.

“It was very stressful, very embarrassing. I felt like I was under a microscope and judged,” says Amy Wilkins-Allen, single mom of three, who was placed under investigation for educational neglect of her youngest child in February 2025 and later in March 2025.

Her youngest daughter began to exhibit symptoms of mental health issues, such as agoraphobia and anxiety disorder,  at the age of seven. It became difficult for her to stay outside for a long time or enter a mobile vehicle. By 2020, the COVID-19 lockdown worsened those conditions to the point where she didn’t wish to return to school.

At the time, Allen’s daughter was assigned to a temporary psychiatrist, to whom she explained her daughter’s mental health conditions to. Due to excessive school absences, Allen requested that the psychiatrist approve online learning.

The psychiatrist refused the request, she said. After the 20th day of absence, the school was forced to report the incident to CFSA, and her daughter was involuntarily taken off.

When an investigation was opened in February, a case manager visited the home, and no sign of abuse or neglect of the child was found. Her case remained closed until an anonymous report was made claiming that Allen was convincing her daughter that she had mental health issues and was purposely causing educational neglect.

However, the fact that was truly neglected throughout her process was that Allen was actively providing for her child with limited medical resources, and removal was not the answer.

The District of Columbia’s Child & Family Services Agency is responsible for seeking permanency for children who are removed from their homes. These removals can account for a child suffering an immediate danger or a lack of safety within their home environment. It is unclear if families who are greatly impacted by poverty and mental health issues are given great care before a removal takes place.

The reality sets in for parents like Allen that they can be placed under investigation while not being able to afford assistance to win their cases. Ward 8 has a rate of child removal that is more than four times greater than the rest of DC.

In addition, Ward 8 families are suffering a higher rate of removals in comparison to their demographic counterpart, Ward 7.