Pryce began her career in child protective services as an intern, then spent years serving as a CPS caseworker before ultimately leaving the profession to pursue a career as a researcher and activist. During her time at CPS, she began to recognize how she and her fellow caseworkers were complicit in a system that victimized Black mothers and families, failed to rectify the underlying systemic failures that led to CPS involvement, and worst of all, created new and lasting trauma in the lives of the children they served. Broken is a deeply personal, vulnerable story of Pryce’s journey into activism, as she began to witness CPS’ failings, both as a caseworker and as a close friend to Black mothers whose children had been taken away. Pryce argues that we must advocate for revolutionary change that more effectively protects children from abuse and neglect but prioritizes keeping families together. This book will appeal to readers interested in social reform and the abolition of the carceral state, and it makes a strong pairing with Dorothy Roberts’ Torn Apart (2022).

**⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Informative but Uneven**

Jessica Pryce’s *Broken: Transforming Child Protective Services* provides an insightful look into the challenges and shortcomings of the child protective services system from the perspective of a former caseworker. The book offers valuable firsthand experiences and observations, shedding light on systemic issues and potential reforms. However, the narrative can be uneven, with some sections feeling repetitive or lacking in depth. While the book’s intentions are commendable and its subject matter important, it occasionally misses the mark in delivering a cohesive and impactful analysis.

This book should be an essential read for every BSW/MSW/DSW student. It should be an essential part of the onboarding/training process for new child protective/welfare workers. It should be an essential tool for every civic organization working with families.

Pryce has a radical idea: burn the entire child welfare system down to build something different, something that makes a true effort to partner with families in strengthening their foundation.

Pryce peels back the curtain of child protective/welfare services during her time as a newbie CPS worker to a seasoned and eventually burned-out social worker, resulting in her resigning from her job as a front-line worker and transitioning to become an activist, to dismantle the child protective system altogether. Her professional experience is juxtaposed with her personal experiences in having CPS involved in her sister's and friend's lives.

I've known many child protective/welfare social workers who were burnt out and eventually left their jobs - or the profession - altogether. I've met plenty of social workers who've questioned the moral dilemmas of working within an agency that does little to truly acknowledge (or change) the role it has in maintaining the status quo.

Pryce's book is timely and necessary, backed with research. If her goal was to get readers angry and fired up, then mission accomplished.

As much as people believe that social workers sole reason for existing is to remove children from "unfit" homes, you'd be surprised to know that in MSW programs you don't actually learn much about child welfare (unless that is your speciality). I learned more from this novel about child protective services than I have during my first year in my program. I would greatly recommend this book not only to my social work friends, but also to faculty teaching within colleges of social work. In my program, we read The New Jim Crow and Evicted and this book is completely rank with those books. Similarly to those books, there are examples of how racism disproportionately impacts black women at much higher rates than their white counterparts. One of the best example of this in this novel is when CPS requires a mother to get a GED as one of the many steps to get her children back. At that point, Jessica reflects that her own father didn't have a GED, and was still a loving parent. Barriers like these set up black parents to fail. There is a lot of reflection of how CPS treats white families vs black and how white mothers can make mistakes, but black mothers cannot.

Jessica's writing about her real life experience, from intern to Ph.D work, was insightful. I think a lot of people in the social work field can relate to the feeling of being an intern and doing the work, assuming that it is the right thing to do, until it happens to you. I greatly appreciate Jessica telling the stories not only of people within her own caseload, but also in her personal life. Throughout the novel, without actually saying it, Jessica also learns cultural humility as a CPS worker. There should be no standard for the way that a family, "should" live. What we perceive as "unfit" is actually just a different way of living, especially when it comes to other cultures.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Broken begins with a haunting dream—a disfigured face, dead children strewn across a lawn. This dream serves as a metaphor for the disfigurement of a broken system, where children's lives hang in the balance. Pryce's vivid prose draws readers into her reality, where she grapples with the weight of her responsibilities.

Pryce doesn't shy away from the harsh realities. She recounts her encounters with neglectful parents, abused children, and bureaucratic red tape. Her frustration and compassion collide as she navigates the labyrinthine world of CPS. The reader witnesses her internal struggle—the desire to protect versus the limitations of a flawed system.

What sets "Broken" apart is Pryce's unwavering commitment to systemic change. She doesn't merely recount horror stories; she offers solutions. Pryce advocates for trauma-informed training, increased resources, and a shift in focus from punitive measures to family preservation. Her passion for reform is contagious, leaving readers inspired and hopeful.

The book also delves into the emotional toll on caseworkers. Pryce grapples with burnout, compassion fatigue, and the weight of carrying others' trauma. Her vulnerability humanizes the profession, reminding us that caseworkers are not faceless bureaucrats but individuals with their own struggles.

As Pryce reflects on her journey, she leaves readers with a challenge—to see beyond the brokenness and envision a reimagined CPS. Her words linger, urging us to advocate for change, one child at a time.

Broken is a raw, unflinching account that demands attention. Jessica Pryce's voice is a beacon, guiding us toward a more compassionate and effective child protective system. This book is not just a memoir; it's a call to action.

The only thing I take minor exception with is the book title - for something to be Broken or must first have been whole or healthy, the child protective system in the US can be argued to never have been either...

Recommended for: Advocates, social workers, and anyone seeking insight into the challenges faced by child protective services.

"Broken: Transforming Child Protective Services - Notes of a Former Caseworker" by Jessica Pryce is a courageous and enlightening memoir that sheds much-needed light on the challenges and triumphs within the child welfare system. Pryce's candid and compassionate storytelling offers readers a rare glimpse into the often overlooked world of child protective services, as she shares her personal experiences and insights gained during her time as a caseworker.

Through Pryce's compelling narrative, readers are introduced to the harsh realities faced by children and families caught in the grip of abuse and neglect. With unwavering honesty, Pryce confronts the systemic issues and bureaucratic obstacles that often hinder efforts to protect vulnerable children, while also highlighting the moments of hope and transformation that inspire her work.

What makes "Broken" truly exceptional is Pryce's unwavering commitment to advocating for positive change within the child welfare system. With empathy and determination, she offers thoughtful reflections and practical solutions for reform, challenging readers to confront their own preconceptions and biases while advocating for the rights and well-being of children.

Throughout the memoir, Pryce's voice is both compelling and compassionate, drawing readers into her world with vivid detail and heartfelt emotion. From the heart-wrenching cases she encounters to the small victories that keep her going, every page resonates with authenticity and integrity.

Ultimately, "Broken" is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of compassion to create meaningful change. Jessica Pryce's memoir is a must-read for anyone interested in social justice and child welfare, offering valuable insights and inspiration for transforming the lives of vulnerable children and families.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to review for an honest opinion.

I first heard about this book being published on the Nobody Should Believe Me podcast with host Andrea Dunlop. I followed the Maya Kowalski trial that is discussed in that podcast, and the case was very briefly mentioned in this book.

I come at this from a different side, as a former state approved foster/adoptive parent. I was truly interested to hear Jessica's views from the inside of CPS. We can all imagine how it works, how it's run on the inside, the policies, the procedures, the workings of a permanency plan, etc. We all know this system is broken. The social workers and investigators are overworked and burned out. That alone should be red flags that the system is broken and change needs to happen now. The system should not run the same for every call and every family. No two calls are the same. Every family and every situation is different.

I will say that from my pov in a different city & state than Jessica, in every foster parent training class, we (my husband and fellow foster parents) were told the goal is and always will be reunification, if not with the parents, at least with biological family members. We were told this by our social workers, case workers, attorneys, GAL, etc. We were encouraged to interact with the biological family of foster placements and praise them when they would accomplish a goal on the perm. plan and reassure them that their child was doing okay despite the interruption of their home life. I wanted so badly to be an encouragement to our bio families, to interact with them, and let them know we were in their corner. Bio families need better support. Don't judge a family without all the facts. Don't assume every family should be condemned because that is absolutely not the case. Unfortunately, we never had a case while our home was open that we were able to do that. We chose to close our home after our adoption. Fostering is not for the faint of heart. It's not all sunshine and rainbows.

I think people assume the children are just fine being ripped from their parents or biological families and placed with strangers. Many say "oh they're loved and fed, clothed, in school, and want for nothing," but that's not true at all. Children are very loyal to their parents regardless of any wrong being done or going on in the home. Many have behavioral and mental health issues from this upheaval in their lives, on top of any trauma experienced to warrant a removal from their home.

I appreciate the inside views of how CPS works, at least in the state of Florida. These stories Jessica shares will break your heart. Some will downright make you angry. The system as a whole needs change, and we all need to be pushing for that change. It's devastating to think that you take your child to the ER for help by professionals, and your child is removed from your care and placed with strangers.

I realize that there are very real situations of abuse, neglect, medical neglect, abandonment, etc., and most certainly, the safety of the children is the most important, but the plan shouldn't be the same for every family. It needs to be made based on the needs of that family. Bio families need support.

I don't have a solution for the issues within CPS. It's just not that simple. I get that. Jessica is on to something, and I just hope change is coming.

Thank you to Netgalley and Amistad for the e-ARC. This one has tough subject matter for sure, but it needs to be read by everyone.

Thank you, NatGalley and Amistad for this advanced readers copy. This was an amazing book told through the lens of the author’s time working as a caseworker in child protective services. CPS is supposed to be a safety net for children when their family is struggling and unable to care for them. Many times due to racism and classism, CPS fails these children. This author shows these programs are routinely underfunded and do not have the resources to properly assess claims and provide support for these families. This book was a wonderful insight into the world of child protective services and how we need to do better for our communities, especially those who really need it.

This is a powerful account of a former CPS caseworker's journey into the system, her experience during her stay, and eventual exit from it. Dr. Jessica Pryce utilizes her own story in conjunction of those of her friends, colleagues, family, and the very families she encountered in and out of the system to paint a vivid picture of the current system's failings. A factsheet could have informed of us of the systemic failings, but Dr. Pryce seems to understand that stories stick with us longer and can have a powerful impact on whether and how we change our outlooks. I imagine she experienced somewhat of the same thing as she went from shiny new social worker to feeling jaded and burnt out as a cog in a machine she thought she understood. She does not write from the perspective of someone who has always known what she knows, but she could have. She could have spoken to us readers as the leader and expert that she is now. I'm really glad she didn't, though. By allowing us to witness her shifting beliefs and attitudes, she also presented us with the opportunity to do the same. We can change, and we are more likely to believe that is possible when we see how others did it and see ourselves in that. Dr. Pryce's call to action is one worth listening to so that the system does not continue to inflict compounding harms onto families that would better be served with warmth and adequate social services that address poverty, housing insecurity, etc.