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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.
