It is crucial to know and understand what the social worker can and cannot do, what their intimidation tactics are, when and how to call their bluffs, and whether or not to let them into your home.

Firstly, understand this well: under NO circumstances should you allow a child snatcher into your home without a warrant! This is a common mistake. Once in your home, the social worker looks for ANY excuse to declare your home unfit, and reason to intervene in your life. It doesn't matter how well-kept your home is, whether you have "something to hide" or not, or anything else. The child snatcher is NOT your friend, and cares nothing for you. Her only mission is to seek out and find a reason to snatch your kids or to involve themselves in your family's life.

Secondly, child snatchers usually cannot snatch your kids right away (unless you live in New York or California!) Usually, and in most states, a court order is required. This at least gives you some breathing room.

Thirdly, the social worker is most likely responding to an anonymous tip -- in other words, an allegation that is not known to be true. Know that 90% or so of allegations are false and are consequently thrown out. Also, not every social worker is a child snatcher, but you don't want to take chances. Even if the social worker is not a child snatcher, she might be a officious busybody, in which case you'll be added to her case load and be on it for as long as they can hang onto you -- which is a long time.

Fourthly, social workers may have access to information concerning you and your family's medical history -- and will want further access to your children's doctors. I will explain how to handle this bugaboo shortly.

When the social worker tries to give you hell about this, state that you have a right to privacy, that you are a very private person, and that what they are trying to do goes against your ethical cannons. Make them feel like the bad guys for trying to pry into your private affairs without just cause. Insist on your innocence; that you have done nothing wrong, and that what they are trying to do is unfair and extremely obtrusive, and could possible constitute harassment and abuse in and of itself.

Let them know that you are willing to answer any question they may have, but you must protect your children, and that there has been many cases in this country where social workers have destroyed families needlessly.

An alternative approach to take when they are at your doorstep is this: Tell the worker "I am closing the door. I will not lock it. I am not inviting you in, but, I am not stopping you either. If you enter my home it will be against my wishes and I will take legal action." 

If it came from, for instance, the day care, then stop using that daycare and find another. If it came from school, then go to the school and talk with the principal about who made the false allegation and why. Let him know that you will sue if it ever happens again. If possible, pull your child from that school and enroll him in another.

If it came from a clerk at a store, the ask to speak with management of that store. If the store is a part of a national chain, then write a letter to the general manager about the incident. And, of course, never go to that store again.

In every and all encounters with the social workers and anyone connected with child-protective services, record everything either by videotape or audio. At the very least, have a notepad in hand and jot down everything said, and have a bound copy of your notes notarized immediately. This will increase your credibility and makes it possible for your notes to serve as evidence against the child snatchers in a court of law.

You must either move to a different county, or you must take other measures to get to the cause of the false allegations and put an end to them. Why? Because child snatchers build their cases against you by compiling all these allegations. It does not matter to them whether they are unfounded or not. They will use them to paint a "rosy picture" of you by claiming that they "show a pattern." Once they see this so-called "pattern", you stand in grave danger of loosing your kids to them. Never let matters get that far.