McGrath - I guess I'm just not being clear.   I think social services suck, plain and simple. The tone of this entire thread (Is this how you treat kids in New York?) has given the IMPRESSION that New York is a completely awful city. Re-read the posts and if you think that hasn't been suggested, then we differ on what we read.

As it turns out, this case does appear to an over-reaction to a stressful situation. It brings to light issues that need to be addressed and shows ways the system can be improved, but at the end of the day it appears that there was no inhumane treatment given.