Reporting Child Abuse/Neglect

[fuzzis]

Last week in Washington DC, a woman was arrested in the deaths of her four daughters. The Mayor has said at least six child welfare workers will be fired (http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jgQq_Pn5o6mQHLQWGyzBoiaz4nOwD8U5TKCO0) in conjunction with the case. I'm now listening to an NPR program talking about reporting abuse.

Callers to the program are talking about being concerned about making the call to report abuse or neglect. They don't want to get "involved". They don't know for sure what's happening, and they don't want to get anyone in trouble if something isn't happening. I have a friend who is going through quite a bit of agony with regard to her step-daughter right now and trying to decide if she's going to make the call about the mother.

As a teacher, I was a mandated reporter, and I can remember rather agonized discussions on our team about whether to act on suspicions. We fortunately had a very supportive (and principled) administrative team that was willing to take heat for us, so in the end, in relaying our concerns, the administration always encouraged us to act in accordance with what was best for children...even if it was a hard call to make.

Do you call? Have you called? Do you get involved? What about when you see adults with children and you get that uneasy feeling that a line is being crossed? Do you speak up?

[JMC]

I have not had to call or report anything such as this. If I felt there was in issue that had no other logical conclusions other than some sort of abuse and was in need of a resolution, would I call?

Damn right.

[XC9]

I made that call 1 time. It disgusted me to hear the person I called about on the outside pay phone laughing to someone about the people sending her a letter telling them when they would be coming out to investigate. She stated something in the manner of "glad they called, now I know when to clean my house up." I could have KILLED this lady and the child protective service people too. What a croc! She was at the pool one day and blamed a tenant for making the call and I was glad I heard her say that to the lady. I stood up in her face and let her know that I was the one who called and she moved in the middle of the night.

[LipsofanAngel]

Like you mentioned Fuzz... I'm mandated to report any suspicions at all. I've done it in the past, and will continue to do so. It's very frustrating though when DHS just brushes you off :(

[LipsofanAngel]

One of my frustrations with "the system" is that emotional abuse is swept under the rug and ignored. I guess it's just harder to "prove", but still.... the so called "parents" that say hurtful and cruel things to a child day in and day out- that's not right either. And trust me friends, physical abuse is awful, but emotional abuse in some cases can leave scars that last much longer than a bruise ever could. That's also not to say that physical and sexual abuse don't leave psychological scars... but at least sometimes get more attention from child services and hopefully can be corrected.

[Fishing Girl]

damn right I would call. I know that someone would have to get "involved" and if I saw or heared about some type of abuse going on I would report it.

I know that for someone who doesn't want to get "involved" has their own reasons...but this could be someones life at risk.

[Maggie-Doodle]

Having previously been an officer and then working at HPD I was also mandated to call DHS...with that said...(sorry if I offend anyone with my comments) DHS is just a joke! TOTALLY USELESS... I have NEVER in well over 20 years of LE gotten any help from them when I had victims of any kind of abuse...NEVER! IF it were left up to me, the DHS would be disbanned and we would try to come up with a new plan. EVERY TIME I have called them they would tell me there was nothing they could do! Well, damn, what the hell are they there for? I was lucky on several occassions IF they even had the decency to return my call, knowing full well it was the p.d. calling.

Makes my blood boil to even discuss them! Lips, back to you question though, even if I had not been mandated to call, I still would have...I hate s.o.b.'s that take advantage of old folks, little kids and poor old critters! None of which can take care of themselves. I think that is why I enjoy being a VA so much...I can go to court, speak for those that can't speak for themselves and try to make the system work, one way or the other.

[thrillseeker]

The only time I have ever heard of DHS getting their butts in to action was when a small child came to the ER and eventually died because of the abuse they were put through. Lets just say it was the worse thing I have ever seen and I still get very emotional about it if I sit and think about it. I cant but do believe that we have people out there that abuse kids everyday. Its just not right to let this continue. So H*&L yes I would call in a heartbeat even though I know that 9 out of 10 cases just dont get justice.

Thanks to all of ya'll out there that DO do your jobs and try to help kids in need.

[mac]

I made that call 1 time. It disgusted me to hear the person I called about on the outside pay phone laughing to someone about the people sending her a letter telling them when they would be coming out to investigate. She stated something in the manner of "glad they called, now I know when to clean my house up." I could have KILLED this lady and the child protective service people too. What a croc! She was at the pool one day and blamed a tenant for making the call and I was glad I heard her say that to the lady. I stood up in her face and let her know that I was the one who called and she moved in the middle of the night.


Yup. They tell 'em when they're coming. Isn't that a joke? My sister had a friend who got on drugs and moved herself and her 3 young boys in with an abusive meth dealer. They were making meth in the house and the boys were living a nightmare. My sis finally reported them. Not only did the DHS person call and tell the girl when she was coming, but she also told her who had reported it! (Okay, she didn't tell her, but she laid the file folder open on the coffee table and went to the bathroom.)

This problem isn't going to get better until they do an entire overhaul of the system, including getting rid of some of the lousy pieces of crap that have that job. They could start by treating it like a REAL job worthy of hiring highly qualified people and paying them a decent wage. Teachers have to go through lots to be considered "highly qualified." Why not child protective services workers?

[XC9]

I agree that the DHS does need to be disbanned and start ed all over with people who actually give a sh/t! I also witnessed the same thing at Hattiesburg Police. You call them from H.P.D. in the middle of the night (someone ay DHS is suppose to field these calls after hours) and you may never hear from them. It is always the same old story, I didn't get the message, couldn't get hold of supervisor etc. No one in that department really seems to care about anything but getting that pay check. Not that I don't appreciate a paycheck too, but, I do actually WORK for mine.