How involved do I get with a suspected child abuse case?

[pdsavage]

Quote:
if mom is unfit and soon to be dad unfit...she will be heading to foster care. This isn't a custody dispute it's an abuse dispute.

Once again...here is the number 1-800-96abuse

CALL IT NOW! and be done.....

she would be better off at a relatives then get stuck in foster care system if she is in foster care the day she turns 18 they load you up and put you on the streets...with another family memeber she at least has that connection...

 

[ZZsBabiez]

I'm so saddened to read this.. I have seen first hand..(more than once) how the justice system can be twisted around.. Finding the mother unfit in this case sounds iffy to say the least.

Getting too involved can lead to many problems, but how can you not get involved now?
I would find someone.. and report it.. I hope you find some kind of solution.. I know this is hard.. my thoughts and prayers are with you.

 

[Sillystunt]

Quote:
if mom is unfit and soon to be dad unfit...she will be heading to foster care. This isn't a custody dispute it's an abuse dispute.

Once again...here is the number 1-800-96abuse

CALL IT NOW! and be done.....

she would be better off at a relatives then get stuck in foster care system if she is in foster care the day she turns 18 they load you up and put you on the streets...with another family memeber she at least has that connection...

In a realistic world but often it doesn't happen!! Many people can't pass the homestudies. And sad to say, she probally wouldn't even go to a home but instead a group home. I deal with it everyday, it's tragic! But they place with foster care first then find suitable family.

 

[gaited horse]

Quote:
if mom is unfit and soon to be dad unfit...she will be heading to foster care. This isn't a custody dispute it's an abuse dispute.

Once again...here is the number 1-800-96abuse

CALL IT NOW! and be done.....

please call it

 

[The Chicken Lady]

You are obligated to report abuse because you are a teacher. If you do not, you could lose your job.

If you don't know your school's social worker, contact your school counselor or talk with your administrator. They will walk you through the steps of making report.

 

[ranchhand]

Quote:
No job to lose, but certainly a future at stake.
Call for professional help. Texas takes a very dim view of people being helpful, unfortunately. Good luck to you all!

 

[mom'sfolly]

Texas has very strict laws on reporting. If you as a teacher suspected abuse, it must be reported. I don't know what the chain of command is for reporting, that is if you personally have to report it or you need to report it to the principal. I know you have lost your job, and that school is out; but the law is very clear on this.

I have a friend in a PPCD classroom, and in they have reported on at least on child. This child was removed and later adopted.

Finally is the moral consideration. If you think abuse is or has occured, you have an obligation as a human being to report it. Yeah it might be part of a custody consideration, but call CPS and let them sort it out. You may be able to suggest to the mother that she take her daughter to a women's shelter, where someone trained can advocate for her daughter.

Oops, just reread your post. I see that you did follow the regular proceedure. I think it could be complicated. Unless you are peaking in windows it is difficult to know what is actually going on. It may be that both parents are abusive, and dad won the first time around. Maybe mom isn't abusive now because she sees her daughter so little...............it all sounds very bad. But you can call CPS, voice your concerns, including the whole abuse on both sides/custody issue; ease your conscience, and know that you have done what you can. This girl is also old enough to manipulate the system, but attempted suicide make the whole situation much more believable to me.

 

[Boyd]

Quote:
she would be better off at a relatives then get stuck in foster care system if she is in foster care the day she turns 18 they load you up and put you on the streets...with another family memeber she at least has that connection...

In a realistic world but often it doesn't happen!! Many people can't pass the homestudies. And sad to say, she probally wouldn't even go to a home but instead a group home. I deal with it everyday, it's tragic! But they place with foster care first then find suitable family.

PD Savage - I sort of disagree........ I am a foster parent and a licensed group home. I take in kids as old as 18, and get them ready to live independently. Most foster families won't teach kids how to drive..... We do, we also teach them how to cook, clean, keep organized and keep their money straight.

Unless the laws in Texas are different, no kid at 18 should EVER be tossed on the streets. Many of those kids are eligible to get services until they are 20-21 years old. Most of those kids are also able to get their college for free... free medical, dental and vision care as well as an allowance from the state, clothing needs met, a Transitional Case worker who helps the kids go from foster care to Independent living as well as the local DHS & Agency people helping.

SillyStunt

I'm right there with you. Older teens are generally placed in a group home, because they are 99% of the time never adopted.

 

[Dar]

my DS is 17 he has not lived at home since oct 2008 (he moved out at 16 cause the canadian law allows it (that but thats another rant)

My DS knew he would not get government assistance unless he can prove that living at home with mom and dad was not a good place to be due to abuse.

he had the school and the counselors and even CPS convinced that we were abusive. We almost lost our other 2 children because of his accusations!

the only thing that saved my backside was my family doctor, he knew everything that was going on and he called CPS on my behalf and sat down with them and went over my sons medical file and the family file, it took hours and I came very close to loosing everything.

my ds was telling stories on how we (dh and I) left him and the 2 younger sibs for days at a time and went on drinking binges and drug binges. how DH used his head as a soccer ball and he missed 3 weeks of school. How he was the one to get up with DD at nights causing him to miss school or to be late for school cause he over slept.

DH and I had to go for a battery of tests, the family doc was right there with us and met with the police to explain my drug allergies and the fact that I am terrified of taking drugs due to my LONG list of drug allergies
I had to get a letter from my employer and my school regarding my attendance and my DH had to get one too from his work. We were subjected to random urine tests for 6 months. The kids were brought to the CPS office and video taped for statements.

They (CPS and local police) then turned and investigated my DS he was diagnosed with Bi-Polar, and narcissistic personality disorder.

But because he thought he could beat the system and wanted attention from the social workers at the school my life and the life of my other children were almost ruined...

**moral of the story**
Call the number and let the police and CPS do the investigation

 

[saddina]

You are required by law to report it if you even THINK there may be abuse, much less being litterly TOLD by 2 sources there is. How would you feel 2 months from now if a CPS officer shows up at your door asking questions because the girl has died? In CA you are required YOURSELF to call the abuse hotline # and not to just assume the next person in your chain of command at work does. Several years ago a child I worked with was beaten to death by mom's new BF, beacuse the girl didn't want to take a nap. You better believe they came to the school to see if there was previous signs of abuse (there was not, it was a new boyfriend).