Child Protective Services w/ Katherine Ealey
On this episode of AnthroPuzzled, we speak with Katherine Ealey, an intake case worker for Child Protective Services. Katherine holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and anthropology and a master’s degree in sociology from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Her role centers on conducting initial assessments, interviewing families, and documenting reports of child abuse and neglect, work that requires cultural sensitivity, neutrality, and an ability to understand diverse caregiving practices.
Katherine walks us through what CPS looks like on the ground, from balancing field visits with extensive documentation to navigating distrust, de‑escalating tense situations, and collaborating with therapists, courts, and community partners. She reflects on how anthropology informs her approach to family dynamics. The conversation explores ethnographic parallels in CPS assessments, the emotional labor of casework, media portrayals of CPS, understaffing, safety considerations, and the challenges of connecting families to diminishing social resources.
Listen now to learn more about applied anthropology, cultural understanding, casework practice, family dynamics, and how anthropological perspectives shape work within child protective services.
CONNECT WITH KATHERINE
LinkedIn: Katherine Ealey
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
Social Problems: Sociology in Action
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Cultural Relativism: Approaching families without judgment by recognizing that practices differ across cultures, such as understanding that child discipline norms may vary significantly from how the caseworker grew up.
Ethnographic Data Collection: Gathering contextual background information during assessments like education levels, length of residency, and community assistance status much like a traditional field study.
Semi-Structured Field Interviews: Conducting in-person home visits and interviewing clients alongside collateral contacts, such as a family therapist, to gather multiple perspectives on a situation.
Neutral Positionality & De-escalation: Entering high-stress environments without predetermined judgments and using calm communication, often reassuring parents with statements.