Top NY child welfare official expresses concerns about banning anonymous CPS reports

The Imprint interviewed Todd Sage, clinical associate professor in the School of Social Work, for a story about the debate around legislation that would end anonymous reports to the New York State child maltreatment hotline. The state Legislature passed the bill with bipartisan support and has until the end of the year to formally deliver it to Gov. Kathy Hochul for her signature or veto.

“I know I’ve intervened on many children’s behalf from anonymous reports that were absolutely needed, and so it’s not something that many of us take lightly to make this recommendation. However, the child welfare system, in many ways, is its own traumatizing system,” said Sage, who worked in Child Protective Services (CPS) for many years and chairs the western New York State Citizen Review Panel for CPS.