Child Protective Services (CPS) is entrusted with protecting children, but as highlighted in Ella Wheatley Magazine, the system is riddled with failures that too often put children in harm’s way. In this issue, we examine the heartbreaking gaps in CPS oversight—understaffed offices, excessive caseloads, missed warning signs, and poor inter-agency communication—that allow children to fall through the cracks. Our featured story follows the case of Laura Kavanaugh, a resilient young survivor whose pleas for help were repeatedly ignored by a system that was supposed to protect her. Her journey, documented with care and compassion, reveals the devastating human cost of institutional neglect and the urgent need for reform. At Ella Wheatley, we believe stories like Laura’s are not isolated tragedies—they are calls to action. Through her voice, and the voices of others like her, we seek to hold systems accountable, empower advocates, and build a safer future for all children.