Update---my neighbors?

Question

I've asked this kind of question a few times and I'm updating on it. Here is the original question:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/;_ylt=AojXjMWRJmHXQfrq0_osh.4jzKIX?qid=20060809110646AAY4fAW


Everyone said to report them but I didn't because I don't have any evidence that they are harming or neglecting their daughter. Here's my update though: It's getting worse, but I still can't report them because I have no proof. Yesterday they were outside and their daughter (who is around 4 years of age) was just running up and down in the middle of the street not looking for cars or anything. They even were outside in the driveway letting their baby (who is around the age of 7 or 8 months) crawl on the back of their car. Like they literally sat him on the back of the car and he was crawling around on the back windshield and he almost fell off! (He's very unbalanced like they usually are at that age). And a few days ago their daughter was outside by herself for 8 minutes.

I timed her. She was outside with no supervision for 8 minutes. Her parents were inside (doing who knows what but obviously they had their heads up their butts). She was just running about with nobody watching her. She even was standing in the street alone for most of the time hiding things in the mailbox. What should I do? I fear for my neighbor's children but I also fear the authorities or services won't do anything. Help?

Answer 1

From what I know Child Protective Services has to investigate every claim of neglect/abuse whether its true or b.s. and I think in most states you can do it anonymously

Answer 2

Honey, you don't have to have proof to report abuse or neglect. You have enough just from what you have witnessed to make a report. Be sure to give your name, so that the worker can call you for information. You will not be given up. Don't keep repeating that you are a neighbor, because that part does go into a report. State that you saw_________. This way you are still reporting what you saw and the neighbor will not know it was you. When the worker calls you, make sure you give a number where you can be reached in the daytime, be honest and don't embellish on anything. They will do a well being check, if nothing else, and this will then tell your stupid neighbors that their parenting skills need some work. The Children's Service worker will not come to take the kids. It will shine a light on a problem that needs to be addressed. As for the 8 minutes....that is not a horribly long time. We have had kids left alone at 5 all day long. Your neighbor's may just be young and unaware.

Answer 3

you don't need evidence, did you even try calling the Child Protective Services? If you did than they should have told you what you need to do, sometimes it takes a neighbor to step up and say something like..."Did you know your daughter is in the middle of the street?" Sometiems if its not a busy street then usually there won't be a problem. But since you said there's some traffic going through, probably more than it would be on a sub road. Than call the police and tell them you see a child who looks as if she's only 3 to 4 years of age and she isn't being attended outside. Her parents are not paying any attention, maybe they are a little to busy. But maybe you should hollar out and say something like, "Someone needs to take care of that little girl before she gets hit by a vehicle that won't see her." If no one reacts to that than they really don't care...and they are the parents that don't deserve kids and sometimes end up losing a child before they get a wake up call. Its a very sad story...really it is. My sister has 3 kids with one guy and never really took care of them, she was very abusive to her 2 girls which were older and she babied her son. But he's the one that she almost lost because she never paid any attention to any of them. Now she has another son, making 4kids, I do not believe that she deserves any of her kids. She still is abusive and neglects the older ones now, but she seems to be more attentive to them. Can you believe she doesn't believe her kids over her boyfriend who abuses them very much. I want to report her, but for some reason, I just can't. Maybe it'll take her oldest daughter to report them some day.

Answer 4

I definitely think that is enough evidence to report them. It is very neglectful to let all that happen. Children do not have a voice and sometimes it takes someone outside the family to protect them. I had to report 2 families for neglect in our neighbourhood and child services did come to their door. If something ever happened to those children and you didn't report the family, you would feel so guilty. You are witnessing neglect. Phone child services or the police. They will do something because it is the law and they have to investigate all reports.

Answer 5

Report them to CPS if you feel the children are genuinely at risk. However, I've called CPS in CA before about my neighbors and their children and gotten the run-around with no results. But it's really not your (or my call) as to what warrants a visit from a social worker. Put the information into more qualified hands. If nothing else, at least you know that you did what you needed to do.

Answer 6

heres the thing,,, it isnt up to you to provide proof.. thats child welfare's job. report it over and over and over,, document everything you see and let the govt. do its job. Imagine how you will feel if something happens to those little angels and you didnt report it. once CPS sends a worker out there, they will find out what's going on inside the house which is prolly worse than what they let others see. If you are really concerned, you can videotape or take pics if they are on a public street.... not invasion of privacy when they are in public... good luck

Answer 7

i really hope you are not making up this story. actually i do hope you are as i hate to hear about parents not taking care of there kids. see people have given you great advice and u are ignoring it YOU DONT NEED PROOF!

if you called the police station RIGHT this instance.... right now or when you DO see this kid outside the police would come out and see what it is YOU are seeeing
how you gonna feel when that 4 year old gets ran over by a car one day because no one cared enough to save her.

Answer 8

YOu can still call Child Services, and report your concern. My 4 year old has been outside by herself for 8 mins before. i hardly consider that neglect.

Answer 9

Report them anonomously.. if need be a few times. Use a payphone if you don't want involved. You seem concern and I doubt you would feel good if the child gets run over or even gets run over and causes a wreck that hurts others as well.

Answer 10

it doesn't matter if you have any evidence or not...if you keep bugging the police about what you have seen, eventually they are going to want to check it out for themselves. talk to your other neighbors and ask them if they've seen the same thing you have, that way you can have more support when you go to the police. this sounds like neglect if they're letting their kid go outside in a thunderstorm and walk barefoot where there are nails and stuff! you really should report them.