Child Protective Services held a forum in downtown Bakersfield to help the public spot the signs of abuse.

Assistant Director Antanette Reid says poverty and substance abuse are some of the biggest reasons they have to take children away but that they try and reunite families.

Reid also thinks Thursday’s event gave the agency a chance to combat misconceptions by showing the public what they do and their.

They are still taking e-mailed questions from the public at [email protected].

Kelli Forsch