I haven't had a lot of interaction with them, but my opinion is that CPS attracts very empathetic people -- people who are attracted to a job of "saving the children".

These people are then exposed to a continuing stream of addicts, criminals, the mentally ill, etc, who are actively harming children.

Preserving your empathy in such a situation is very difficult. I suspect most just protect themselves by shutting it down.

Not to mention the fact that to everybody you interact with considers you the "bad guy".

I was at a party once where we everybody was trying to outdo each other describing the most disgusting thing they'd ever seen. There were some whoppers there -- there were farmers, doctors and vets at the party.

The winner was a CPS officer.