Demand an Independent Investigation into Kern County CPS

The Isuue

Kern County has witnessed too many tragedies where children, known to Child Protective Services (CPS), remained in unsafe homes — with devastating, sometimes fatal, consequences. Families in Bakersfield and across Kern County are heartbroken and outraged that the very system meant to protect our most vulnerable has repeatedly failed them.

When reports of abuse are filed and children remain in harm’s way, it is not just oversight — it is systemic failure. These failures demand accountability. Every unheeded warning represents a child who might have been saved.

Why It Matters
According to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS), timely and effective intervention can prevent many child fatalities linked to neglect or abuse. If Kern County CPS is not consistently following protocol or if its policies are inadequate, children will continue to pay the price.

Our Demand
We call for a comprehensive, independent investigation into Kern County CPS. This investigation must:

• Be conducted by a body entirely independent of CPS to ensure transparency and avoid conflicts of interest.
• Review past cases where abuse reports were mishandled or ignored.
• Provide public, actionable recommendations to strengthen policies, training, and accountability.

The Goal
This is not about assigning blame for the past — it is about protecting children in the future. Kern County’s children deserve a system that acts swiftly, effectively, and always in their best interests.

Too many young lives have been lost already. We cannot afford silence. Please sign this petition to demand an independent investigation into Kern County CPS and fight for a safer future for our children.