Introduction:

Families deserve truth, fairness, and transparency in every child welfare investigation. Too often, parents and caregivers find themselves at the mercy of reports written behind closed doors — with no way to verify what truly happened during interactions with DHS/CPS workers. When caseworkers or supervisors act unethically or misrepresent facts, families have little recourse to prove their innocence.

We, the undersigned, are calling on the Oregon Legislature and DHS leadership to adopt a policy requiring all DHS/CPS workers to wear body cameras during official interactions with families. This measure is essential to restore public trust, ensure accurate documentation, and protect both families and workers from false allegations or misconduct.

Why This Change Is Urgently Needed

Across Oregon, countless families have faced unfair treatment and biased investigations at the hands of DHS/CPS workers — with little to no way to hold anyone accountable when the truth is misrepresented. The lack of transparency creates an imbalance of power that leaves families vulnerable, especially when there is no physical or video evidence to verify what truly occurred during home visits or interviews.

One such case occurred in Polk County, Oregon, involving CPS worker Cody Gibney and supervisor Laurel Gold. In this case, the worker’s assessment findings contained false and misleading information that did not accurately reflect what took place during the investigation involving Logan Bratsakis and Mikali Prouty. Despite the absence of photographic evidence, no criminal charges, and no case being opened, the false findings have had long-lasting negative effects on family rights and relationships.

This situation, like many others across Oregon, became a “word versus word” scenario, where the written report of a state worker held more weight than the truthful accounts of the individuals involved. Without body camera footage, there was no objective record to confirm or dispute what was said — leaving families powerless to defend themselves.

Implementing body cameras would ensure that truth replaces speculation, facts replace assumptions, and justice replaces bias. These recordings would serve as a neutral record for all interactions, protecting both the family and the caseworker while improving the integrity and fairness of Oregon’s child welfare system.

Part 2B: Additional Family Case Examples (Community Evidence)

Other Oregon Families Impacted by DHS/CPS Misconduct

The issues seen in Polk County are not isolated. Families throughout Oregon report similar injustices involving inaccurate reports, bias, and a lack of oversight. Below are a few examples gathered from parents and caregivers across the state:

 

Case Example 1 – Marion County: A mother was accused of neglect based solely on a caseworker’s claim, without physical evidence or medical verification. Despite multiple witnesses contradicting the report, the findings were upheld with no recording of the interaction available.

 

Case Example 2 – Lane County: A father lost contact with his children after a DHS worker misrepresented statements he never made. The appeal process relied entirely on the original worker’s written account, leaving no way to prove the truth.

 

Case Example 3 – Clackamas County: A caregiver’s home was mischaracterized as “unsafe” based on photos taken out of context and no recorded verification of the visit. The decision was later overturned, but not before causing emotional and financial hardship.

 

Case Example 4 – Polk County (Separate Family): Another family reported that their DHS worker entered their home unannounced and made claims inconsistent with what was said during the visit. The lack of body camera footage made it impos

sible to dispute.

 

Part 2C: Public Call for Family Testimonies and Case Submissions

To ensure that lawmakers, DHS leadership, and the Governor’s office understand the full scope of this problem, we are gathering additional documented accounts from families who have experienced misconduct, dishonesty, or bias by Oregon DHS/CPS workers.

 

If your family has faced false or misleading assessment findings, unrecorded visits, retaliation, or unethical treatment, we invite you to share your experience to be included as part of the supporting documentation for this petition.

 

Your story can help make change happen.

By sharing your experience, you can help ensure that Oregon families are no longer left defenseless against one-sided reports and that DHS workers are held to the same transparency standards as law enforcement.

 

Submission Information:

 

Please include the following in your submission (as much as you’re comfortable sharing):

 

Your name and county (optional)

 

Date and nature of DHS/CPS involvement

 

Summary of what occurred (especially any false or inconsistent information in reports)

 

Impact on your family (emotional, financial, or legal)

Any supporting documents or correspondence (assessment summaries, appeal letters, etc.)

All submissions will be reviewed for inclusion in the official petition record or supporting exhibits. Personal information can be anonymized before public release, unless the family explicitly consents to be named.

This is our opportunity to stand together and demand truth, transparency, and justice within Oregon’s child welfare system.

Part 3: The Proposed Solution — Mandatory Body Cameras for All DHS/CPS Workers

 

We are calling for the Oregon State Legislature to adopt and implement a statewide mandate requiring all Oregon DHS/CPS workers — including caseworkers, assessors, and supervisors — to wear body-worn cameras during any official contact with parents, caregivers, or children in the course of investigations or assessments.

 

This policy would establish objective accountability, accurate records, and mutual protection for both state workers and the families they serve.

Proposed Policy Framework

1. Mandatory Use:

All DHS/CPS workers must activate their body-worn cameras during any in-person interaction related to an investigation, assessment, home visit, or interview.

Cameras must remain active for the duration of the contact unless turned off at the request of a family member in private, non-investigative conversations.

 

2. Notification:

Workers must clearly inform all parties at the beginning of the interaction that recording is in progress.

The notification should be documented in case notes to ensure full transparency.

 

3. Data Storage and Access:

Recordings shall be securely stored for a minimum of two years or longer if a case remains open or under appeal.

Families and their legal representatives shall have the right to request and obtain copies of recordings that involve them.

Strict confidentiality protocols will be applied to protect children’s and families’ privacy.

 

4. Worker and Family Protections:

Footage can serve as evidence in appeals or complaints, protecting workers from false claims and families from false reporting.

Any alteration, deletion, or intentional disabling of a body camera during active contact shall result in disciplinary review.

 

5. Training and Oversight:

DHS must develop and provide body camera training for all field staff.

A Body Camera Oversight Committee—comprising DHS officials, legislators, and public representatives—should monitor compliance and handle any disputes related to camera use or data handling.

Benefits of the Proposed Policy

 

✅ Truth and Accountability: Creates an impartial record of every interaction, removing doubt and “word-versus-word” scenarios.

✅ Transparency and Trust: Rebuilds confidence in DHS by showing families that honesty and fairness are enforced by policy, not assumed.

✅ Protection for Families: Prevents manipulation, false reporting, or misinterpretation of events that can destroy family bonds.

✅ Protection for Workers: Guards against false accusations and ensures accurate documentation of worker conduct.

✅ Improved Quality Control: Allows supervisors to review footage for training and oversight, promoting consistent professional standards.

✅ Reduced Litigation Costs: Clear evidence reduces the likelihood of drawn-out appeals or lawsuits based on conflicting statements.

 

Part 4: Closing Statement and Call to Action:

Oregon’s families deserve a child welfare system that stands for truth, accountability, and justice — not one where the word of a caseworker automatically outweighs the voice of a parent. Too many lives have been disrupted, reputations destroyed, and families torn apart because of unrecorded, unverified reports written behind closed doors.

We believe that requiring DHS and CPS workers to wear body cameras during official interactions is not only reasonable — it is essential to restore public trust.

Body-worn cameras are already standard equipment for law enforcement officers across Oregon, precisely because they protect everyone involved. The same principle should apply to those with the power to remove a child from their home or shape the outcome of a family’s future.

We urge the Oregon Legislature, Governor’s Office, and Department of Human Services to act now by implementing this reform. The technology exists. The need is proven. What remains is the will to do what’s right — to ensure that no family ever again faces injustice without a record of the truth.

Together, we can build a system where accountability is not optional and where families and state workers alike can rely on the facts rather than assumptions.

We, the undersigned, call upon Oregon’s leaders to enact legislation requiring all DHS/CPS workers to wear body cameras during official interactions with families, effective statewide.

Let Oregon lead the nation in transparency, fairness, and protection for our children, our parents, and the dedicated workers who serve them.

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Sign & Support This Petition

📍 Sign your name to demand accountability and transparency in Oregon’s child welfare system.

📍 Share your story — let lawmakers know how DHS/CPS decisions have impacted your family.

📍 Contact your legislators to voice your support for the “Body Cameras for CPS Workers Act.”