At the age of six, I endured unimaginable abuse at the hands of my father and grandfather. As a young child with Asperger's, I was beaten and tormented for behaviors I could not control. I vividly remember the scheduled CPS visits that were nothing more than rehearsed performances. My father would force my younger brother and me to clean the house and remain silent, presenting a carefully crafted image that charmed the visiting officers. Not once did they speak to us alone. My trauma was ignored, and instead of being protected, I was punished, labeled a problem child, and institutionalized for mirroring the aggression I experienced daily. The system that was meant to safeguard me left me in terror, burdened by silence, and scarred for life.

In Virginia today, countless children are living stories just like mine because our current CPS protocols are not strong enough to protect them. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study shows that nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults have suffered at least one traumatic childhood event, and one in six have experienced four or more. These early traumas are not isolated memories; they are predictors of lifelong struggles with mental health, substance abuse, chronic illness, and even early death. Despite this research, our system still relies on predictable, scheduled visits that give abusers time to stage their homes and silence their victims. It is critical that CPS be required to conduct unannounced drop-by visits and meet children in environments outside parental control, such as schools or community settings, where they can finally feel safe enough to speak openly.

Furthermore, psychological and emotional abuse must be recognized as every bit as harmful as physical violence. Threats, intimidation, and manipulation leave invisible scars that shape a child’s entire life, yet they are often minimized or dismissed. This is especially dangerous for neurodivergent children like I was, whose trauma responses may not look “typical” and are often misunderstood or punished. CPS workers need specialized training to identify these behaviors as cries for help rather than defiance. They must also be equipped to recognize narcissistic and manipulative traits in abusers—skills that could have saved me from years of terror and betrayal.

These reforms cannot happen without serious investment. Virginia must allocate more funding and resources to CPS to allow workers the time, tools, and training they need to break cycles of abuse. The ACEs study makes it painfully clear that childhood trauma is not rare; it is a silent epidemic that shapes our communities and costs us dearly in mental health crises, addiction, incarceration, and lost potential. By building a system that prioritizes safety over appearances, listens to children, and responds appropriately to all forms of abuse, we can finally start saving lives. My scars are permanent, but we have the power to prevent countless others.