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I Feel So Hopeless. What Should I Do? Cps Is Useless.

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I am hoping this is reaching someone well, even if it is just for someone to listen. My son is 4 years old and reported sexual abuse by his father. This was several weeks ago. I immediately called local authorities and our local department of children and families interviewed him for a total of about ten minutes. My son was fearful and hesitant to speak about what happened initially, and kept saying he didn't want to talk about it, so we were denied a second interview. We visited a child therapist the other day and my son was comfortable and spoke to her about what happened to him. The therapist reported it because she found it to be concerning, but the local department of children and families, or a representative of them, denied it on the grounds that "it was not at the level of what is considered harmful." I am seeking legal assistance but was told that the judge usually sides with whatever DCF deems important or valid, and that a positive outcome for the child is not guaranteed. My son is terrified to go back to his father's house and unless there is "concrete proof" outside of the child's word, it seems that his emotional and physical well-being is not guaranteed. My son has confided in me and several other family members about what is going on, but these systems in place seem not to value the voice of a child this young. My son has had to talk about what's happened to him repeatedly to family and in therapy as of most recently, all of this without anything being fruitful or anyone basing enough substance or merit on his word alone. Despite this still being an open DCF investigation, so far it has only been inhospitable, dismissive, them needing "more detail" despite clear discomfort or retraumatizing a child, and honestly just a very, very hopeless situation. My lawyer thinks DCF will suspend it soon enough just like JSO did and sees it as a very black or white situation. I have two videos of my son talking about what happened and why he doesn't want to go back. These videos have not been acknowledged or evaluated by JSO or DCF and I was told by my lawyer that the only option is sending him back to his father and continuing to keep my child in therapy. Both of us are scared and as a mother I feel hopeless and defeated. His father was cleared of everything because of lack of proof and he has filed a motion of civil contempt due to me refusing to send my son back. I don't know what else to do but I am continuing to research and advocate for my son as a mother, and to be his voice despite legal adversity, lies and attacks from his father, and general dismissiveness. If I could receive any advice or support with our situation, it would at least give me some hope.

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