Should I call Child Protective Services for a roach infestation?

Question

I was recently invited to a home that was completely infested with german roachs. I mean ever nook and cranny. I could not sit down without some crawling on me, so I made a hurried exit. They have two young girls (6&8) and I know roachs are nasty. What should I do?

Answer 1

I would call. I knew a family that had the same problem and rats! It started to infest our whole street. The town was forced to spray the street and child protective services stepped in and told them to clean up or the kids would be removed until they did.

Answer 2

First discuss the problem with your friend.

Help them understand the need to get the problem under control.

Here's the problem with Child Protective Services: They are overworked and underpaid. Calling them will NOT necessarily bring peace and harmony to the lives of those little girls.

If they are taken away from the family, they will be devastated, for one. They could end up in foster homes that are far worse than the conditions they are living in now. This is a VERY real possibility.

I have had dealings with CPS...have had to call them...and the situation only worsened after they became "involved" and subsequently dropped the case, because they felt there was inadequate evidence to keep the case open....3 days later, it was in the news that they were dropping all cases for kids 12 and older as they just had too many caseloads.

I know it is the law to call CPS for abuse situations....but I would first try to get these folks to deal with the problem...if they seem resistant to change, then go ahead and call CPS.

Answer 3

Instead of calling the police on this person, how about offering your help? I assume this is some sort of friend (or friend of a friend), or you wouldn't have been invited to their home.

Perhaps you could take up a collection at church,/work/wherever and gather the money for an exterminator? If that's too much money, offer to buy some roach bombs and see if that will help. If this person rents their home, tell them to contact the landlord. He/she is responsible for fixing this situation.

Only if the mother refuses to do something about the situation when you offer a solution should the authorities get involved. Once CYS is involved in their lives, they won't get out. Unless this woman appears to be an unfit mother in other ways, she doesn't need that kind of grief.

Answer 4

Call the city and ask them for their suggestions. They may have the police or child services do a "wellness" check to the home. But try to be anonymous.

Answer 5

That's hard to say. Have they tried to get rid of them? Is it infested because it is a dirty house? If they are clean and have bombed them or sprayed it may be they can't get rid of them and may not be able to move. But if it is because the house if filthy and they just don't care, then yes call them.

Answer 6

yes they will make sure the house is cleaned up and the roaches are properly extinguished No one has the right to allow children to live like that

Answer 7

If this is a rental, call the city inspection division. Otherwise the local Health Department should be able to help.

Answer 8

ask the parents to do something about it. if that doenst work tehn call cps or a soocial worker or something (a social worker or local charity agency may be able to help pay for the extermination without getting the kids removed)

Answer 9

Yes you should, The parent(s) can be charged with neglect for failing to provide a safe environment for the child.

Answer 10

Yes, you should. Any responsible parent would not let their home get that bad. Roaches are nasty and carry diseases, some that may even kill those kids. Do something fast, please.