How do I turn someone in?

Question

I know a girl who just had a baby and she's been doing drugs around it, she even admitted it to me. How do I turn her in? I feel the home is very misfit and the child is in danger. Who do I tell this to?

Well she's been on probation before, but I think she's off now. I know for a fact she is, and they baby is only 1 week old.

Answer 1

You call the police and Health and Human Services. Tell them each the situation and tell them each, you have contacted or are contacting the other.

Answer 2

Be really sure first. Some people lie about things like that (yeah, stupid ... but I've known people who do).

You have to know whether it's the truth or a lie because what you tell the police/children's services will be different depending on that.

I know around here, if someone makes an anonymous report and it doesn't pan out, they're really reluctant to re-investigate that person for the same thing later. That's not how it should be, but that's why you should be as sure as possible.

So ... if she REALLY IS, call the police AND children's services/child protection/whatever it is in your area. And tell them so. If she's saying this trying to get attention, call children's services/whatever it is and report something different. That she might hurt the child. Seriously ... she might have a mental disorder where people will do anything for attention ... like Münchhausen's Syndrome. And if she does, they should be looking for hospital reports in the baby's name and things, PLUS testing for drug use. If you still aren't sure then you'll have to say you're not sure. If you report this and it's not so ... well, lots of bad things could happen to your friendships and credibility. But even if you say you're not totally sure they'll investigate anyway.

You might not be able to remain anonymous if you want them to take it really seriously. Just another thought.

With any of those possibilities you should call children's services (or whatever it's called, and the police.

And I do think you should at least try to get her to stop first ... sometimes all people need is support. That IS a longshot, though. But try. That baby might do better in a home with a rehabilitated mother than in foster care.

Answer 3

Make an anonymous tip to the police or to child protective services (a division of health and human services) in your area. CPS will investigate, but, depending upon their workload, it may take weeks for them to get to the case. I would recommend calling an anonymous tip to the police department, ASAP. You are DEFINITELY doing the right thing, if you are fairly certain drugs are present. I don't know if you heard about the child whose parents were passed out while his toes were being chewed off by the family dog recently? I, personally, think they were probably under the influence. That's the only way I can think of that parents could sleep through their 1 month old's toes being chewed off right next to them.

Answer 4

I agree you should call CPS or DSHS (anonymously if you want). They will *investigate*, if she's lying she'll get the baby back if she's telling the truth then the baby will be much better off. It's better to be safe than sorry, in my opinion! If you don't report it and something does happen to the baby, imagine the guilt you'll feel.

Answer 5

well i would call social services and not give your name and tell them whats going on. call from a toll booth or a blocked # if your afraid they will find out, but if you feel the baby is in harms way i personally would call and give her name and address.thats so wrong and bad for the baby at a start of life in this way he's parents should be start and not be living in that environment.

Answer 6

Contact your local police department or social services (child protective services) the telephone numbers will be in your local phone book in the blue government pages...

Answer 7

A social worker or the police.
It's good you're concerned but you may have to provide your first and last name. I'm not sure how seriously they would take an anonymous report.
I babysat a foster baby who was taken away from his Mother for similar reasons.

Answer 8

go to the police ASAP cause wot if the baby get a hold of any the drugs? if anythn happens to the baby it will be on ur head! u cud stop ne thin happening to the baby!! the baby dusnt deserve this! go to the police ask to remain unidentified!!! its the best thing to do for the babys saftey.

Answer 9

i think you should mind your own business, is the baby getting beaten??? is the baby being starved??? is the baby being sexualy abused??? is the baby being neglected??? how do you know that she has done drugs around her child?? have you seen it? i would feel really badly if i had someones child taken away from them and they were put in the states care, and then the child was really abused. is this person really not taking care of their child, or are you just against someone using drugs? MAYBE INSTEAD OF TEARING SOMEONES FAMILY APART YOU SHOULD CONFRONT THIS GIRL AND TELL HER THAT SHE NEEDS SOME HELP LIKE REHAB OR NA OR AA. think before you go making acusations about people because things like having your children taken away can really be tramatic for the mother and the child (i would say more damage then is being done now)

Answer 10

Here the national hotline for child abuse 1-800-4A CHILD (22-4453). If there is anyway for you to get proof of what she is doing it helps speed up the investigative process.