"reporting child neglect"?

Question

my neighbor considers me a friend, as for myself i could live without her in my life. her daughter had a child at 15 then again at 18 and now twins at 21. coming from a bad home and being bounced around the system i've tried to help but the more i know about them and see i can't help feel these children deserve better. an unkept house- laundry,mopping, vaccuming and so on are not at the top of thier to do list. grandma is drugged most of the time, grandpa is a drunk, both chain smoke with the knowledge that the 1st 2 children have severe ashma and sinus problems. all the adults act as though one will do more than the other so they do nothing. i have tried to avoid the whole mess but now i don't think i can. they have been investigated before to no avail. the oldest child is now 5 and has tried to stab her mothers newest man in the back. how do you get involved without getting in to deep

Answer 1

This is a tough one but here is what you do. Before you call CPS go to the house, seeing as they think your their best friends this should be no problem. Take a camera, since they always call before they come the people have time to clean and make it seem as if they are a perfect family. Take pics of the house, the people smoking and take them to CPS, make your report, now not only did you make a report but you also have evidence to back yourself up. Who cares if they get in trouble? If they treat the kids like that they need to be in trouble.

Answer 2

You need to continue to report your concerns. I am not sure what state you live in but many states have a family preservation program but the family has to be considered "high risk" to be eligible for the program. Several reports help build a pattern on a case and can ultimately better help the social workers going out to the home. Even though you do not want to get "in to deep", you will better help the family if you leave your name when you call in the report. That way you can be contacted for further information or at least find out that the case is being addressed.

Answer 3

Looks like I'm the only one who agrees with Grumpy. You're being purely speculative and judgemental - one can tell that just by looking at your question. I mean, you start off by saying that you could live without that person in your life. Then you continue being judgmental about the girl having a baby at 15, 18, and 21. Then you go on by labeling grandma and grandpa as drunks and druggies, and then you get on your soapbox about smoking and welfare. Furthermore, just because a child tried to stab someone doesn't mean the kid is messed up. Kids do dumb things to begin with, sometimes they just don't realize what problems that it could cause - like death.

Are the children being beaten? Are they bruised? Do they have cigarette burns on them? Are they being used as sex toys? Trust me, there are a lot worse things than a dirty house and a drunk grandfather. Most of those things happen after they're put in the system. The CPS workers that troll these forums don't want to admit to it though, they'd be more than happy to steal some more kids.

Answer 4

You continue to report it. It may seem like nothing is being done because they can't take children out of the home unless an immediate threat is in evidence. What is happening is a case of negligence is getting built, but, have you considered that even if the kids are removed, all that will happen is that they will join the ranks of kids in the system, if they are lucky they will get into a decent foster family, if they aren't its warehousing at its worst. When a family is ripped apart, there are no good solutions. Keep reporting, its not getting ignored, its just that there is just so much a caseworker can do. Mandatory counseling is a possibility but the state won't step in without plenty of evidence, so let them know when things take a turn.

Answer 5

You could always make an anonymous report. But quite frankly having a messy house isn't neglect. I know the system and what would end up happening (at the most) is that some one would come in a try to educate the family on the dangers of smoking around children that are asthmatic. They may do a bit more for the 5 year old. But I don't think that the children would get taken away which is what I think you are looking for.

Answer 6

1st you shouldn't make the judgement about it. Leave that to the professional.

If grandpa and grandma is drunk,drugged and smokes, and the police have evidence of the drugging the legal system can assume the children are in peril.

neglect indicates the children are not fed, clothed or given adequate supervision or are potentially in abusive situation that could jeopardize their lives.

Contact Social Services. Tell them you require anonymity but have concerns about the children in the house "next door".

Simple as that.

As a school professional any indication of neglect or abuse I witness has to be reported, BY LAW to the authorities.

But as a citizen you are not obligated to that other then through a moral obligation to the kids suffering in the situation.

Anonymity is the key. Call Social Services and ask them how best to handle the situation?

Answer 7

I would report them again. I dont think you are over reacting. The 5 year olds behaviour is reflecting that it is not emotionally good for them to be there. Who thinks of stabbing someone at the age of 5? Not normal under normal cercumstances. Just keep calling and explaining.

IT is tricky as the sometimes call ahead and make an appointment time so the family is prepared for their visit. But one time it will be a drop in and then they will see.

Hope this helps! Good luck and good health to you!

Answer 8

You need to be prepared to be in it all the way or not in it at all. There is no such thing as too deep if you are concerned for the lives and safety of these children. Are you prepared to care for them yourself? If not, you may need to mind your own business. Filing reports (and you say there have already been some investigations to no avail), can lead to the children being removed from one bad situation into a child welfare system far worse than anything going on in the home right now. If you are willing to do more than the other adults around you, please do by offering to take the children yourself. If you are not that passionate about it, then close your blinds and stay in your own yard.

Answer 9

Reports to childrens' services are always anonymous. However, they are taken more seriously when you have specific incidents to report, rather than a general sense of concern. If you seriously suspect neglect or abuse, you need to report it and report it again if your local agencies don't respond.

Answer 10

Leave it alone. It sounds to me like you're spending too much time prying into their business and not enough time taking care of your own. I wouldn't wish social services on my worst enemy. You think the kids are neglected now, just wait until CPS gets ahold of them.

For some reason it sounds more like you're bitter with them for something other than the way they treat their kids. Don't let your own personal issues destroy an entire family.

Oh, I'm sorry... was I judging you? Sounds like I'm not the only one being a little judgemental today.