Parents who let children walk to park alone face ‘unsubstantiated’ child neglect ruling

Parents who let children walk to park alone face ‘unsubstantiated’ child neglect ruling

(Danielle Meitiv)


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SILVER SPRING, Maryland — A couple who received backlash from authorities for allowing their young children to walk around their neighborhood unsupervised are now facing a child neglect ruling — something they plan to appeal.

Following a two-month investigation, Montgomery County Child Protective services found Danielle and Alexander Meitiv responsible for “unsubstantiated” child neglect, according to the Washington Post. That means their case will remain on file with the state for the next five years.

Authorities launched the investigation back in December, after two police officers spotted the Meitiv children — 10-year-old Rafi and 6-year-old Dvora — walking home from a park about a mile from where they live. The officers escorted the children back to their house, where they confronted Alexander Meitiv.

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“(Alexander) was shocked,” Danielle Meitiv told Today Parents in January. “He sees three police officers with our kids. They didn’t really explain what was going on so it was kind of uncomfortable. They asked for ID. He said he felt they were really aggressive.”

A few months prior to that incident, someone phoned in an anonymous tip to CPS when they observed Rafi and Dvora playing alone at a different park a few blocks from their home. That case was ultimately dropped.

The Meitivs subscribe to the so-called “free range” parenting philosophy. Free-range parenting is about empowering children through independence and experience, according to Free Range Kids. It’s the antithesis of so-called “helicopter parenting,” which involves parents hovering over every aspect of their child’s life in an effort to keep them safe.

What is...
... free-range parenting?
"Fighting the belief that our children are in constant danger from creeps, kidnapping, germs, grades, flashers, frustration, failure, baby snatchers, bugs, bullies, men, sleepovers and/or the perils of a non-organic grape." -Free Range Kids

The Meitivs said they wouldn’t let Rafi and Dvora walk around the neighborhood if they didn’t feel the children were capable of handling the responsibility. The children regularly walk home from their bus stop, to the library and to nearby parks — all of which are less than a mile from their home, according to the Post.

The Meitivs received the ruling in the mail last week, but said it won’t stop them from letting their children walk independently around their neighborhood.

“If it doesn’t mean anything, then they should close the case. I didn’t want there to be a file,” Danielle Meitiv told Today. “We never should have been on their radar in the first place. We shouldn’t be in their system at all and certainly not with some allegation of neglect, whether substantiated or not.”

An unsubstantiated neglect ruling typically comes when CPS gathers some evidence that suggests child neglect, but not enough information to support a more concrete conclusion, Paula Tolson, spokeswoman for the Maryland Department of Human resources, told the Post. Unsubstantiated neglect cases remain on file in the state’s records for five years, after which they can be expunged as long as no additional instances of neglect occur during that time period.


What happens the next time? I refuse to be bullied into this, 'We know what is right and healthy for our kids, but we're going to keep them home because we're scared of CPS?' That's just insane.

–Danielle Meitiv


The Meitivs plan to appeal the ruling. To launch that process, they must meet with a CPS counselor to discuss the case. While that meeting can often lead to a resolution, it can also prompt a full administrative hearing that could result in a more severe ruling, according to Today.

“You try as a parent to do what’s right,” Danielle Meitiv told the Post. “Parents try so hard. Even though I know they are wrong, it’s a painful judgment.”

The Meitivs said they worry about future CPS investigations.

“I absolutely am nervous, and that’s why we have to fight this,” Danielle Meitiv told Today. “What happens the next time? I refuse to be bullied into this, ‘We know what is right and healthy for our kids, but we’re going to keep them home because we’re scared of CPS?’ That’s just insane.”

Maryland CPS officials generally classify child neglect investigations as ruled out, unsubstantiated, or indicated, Tolson said.

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