[lacrew]

In Kansas, until recently, the funding for the child protective agency was based on caseload.

It incentivized the agents to find ‘violations’ where there weren’t any.

[Smokin' Joe]

Even where it doesn't specifically work that way, it does. If there is a large enough caseload, there is opportunity for promotion as new hires are added on. Not to mention all the 'counseling money' when those who can afford it (not on welfare) are told they have to attend anything form anger management to parenting classes and are told they will be footing the bill.

Another trick is to take the child to dentist, doctors, etc. and then charge the parents for the costs. If child support is involved, they'll take the money for all the programs and diagnoses from the check, which passes through the Social Services hands first.

The list goes on, but there is a scatload of opportunity for abuse of the virtually limitless power there, and that does happen.