I am in bit of a situation today, I just learned of three pre-teenage kids two girls and one boy. I thought I seen a couple of different familes struggle with their lives but these kids got it bad. They have known of the drug abuse for quite some time now and are not in school their dad is pawning their things for drugs and there is also reports of physical abuse aswell. The next one has to do with two small children ages almost 3 and close to two their mom uses needles infront of them I know this for a fact because I have seen her do it. I have taken the nexy step and called local HHS and still nothing has been done she leaves them home alone all the time in search for illegal drugs and sometimes the kids will go quite some time without eating. Now what do I do?
2007-05-17 20:23:38 · 8 answers · asked by thing_sweet_sexy 1 in Family & Relationships ➔ Family
Call them back and worry them until someone goes....if that doesn't work, call the cops.
2007-05-17 20:32:16 · answer #1 · answered by ? 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A few things you can do in regaurds to the children in the second situation. If you KNOW mom has left them alone, call the police immediatly. Keep an eye out for them in the mean while. Call HHS again, and again, anfd again if you have to, and each time impress upon the person you are speaking to the serious nature of the situation. You will have to use specific examples each time. For the older children, same thing. The problem there, is I don't think the authorities will do anything about dad pawning off kids stuff. Parents toss stuff all the time, with or without their permission. OBVIOUSLY its not as innocent as this is old and broke, but there really is nothing the authorities can do about that specifically. Reguarding the drug use there again, unless you have photos of him doing it, with the children present, Im not sure anything can be done. Reguarding the physical abuse, You could do a few things. Report it as you said, but you could also suggest that one or all three kids talk to a school teacher, principal, coach or councelor about it. Even offer to be there with them. You could also offer to have the police come directly to your home,and have the kids talk to the authorities that way. Short of that, you can offer your own home grown support, a shoulder to lean on, a meal for a hungry kid. It is very frustrating, to know something like this is going on, and not be able to stop it. When we lived in Minnesota, it seemed like the town was riddled with varying degrees of bad or abusive parenting. With one family across the street, there were three kids who regularly escaped the house hold, year round, to come over to our house, or to just have themselves a walk. With or without cloths. Last straw was a 4am visit by a 3 year old and a 18 month old in diapers in the middle of january. We called and called and called again until someone did something. Another family was a single parent family, who did not provide any supervision, and hardly any food for the four kids there. I found out about it, called, and started offering the two youngest breakfast before the bus came in the morning. At one point, the youngest(then five) had come over crying that she couldn't get into her house. I carried her home, pounded on the door for ten minutes, no one was home, so she spent the night. It was 8am the next day before anyone came looking for her. Very discouraging, very frustrating. Do whatever you can, and keep calling! Those kids need someone in their lives who give a damn, be that someone. Good luck!
2007-05-18 08:25:43 · answer #2 · answered by heather 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think for you to do anything of yourself, you welcome retalliation - so I'd proceed cautiously.
Next, if your call was not all that convincing then call again with additional facts that you did not report the first time- if that is the case. In addition, remmber an annoymous call carries the least weight, so if you give your name you'll increase the weight of the report, and remember they cannot reveal your name- those investigating won't even have access to your name their intake not caseworker.
If you requent this place take your cell phone and get pictures of the allegations - doing drugs in front of the kids, home conditions, lack of food, etc. You could write your complaint and mail it to them with the pictures ( email the pictures to your internet email so you can print them out).
If the children are young and left alone for a time, you can go over bring the children to your place and call the police. Obviously, this puts you front and center ( if you don't want to be revealed this would not be wise - but there may be few options for you if this occurs).
It comes down to one simple fact. If you do one thing and it don't work, then you have to go to the next level - get evidence to support what you are saying. You see, even if they send someone there they may not find the evidence allogated - supply them with the evidence so all they need to do is retrieve the children.
2007-05-17 20:57:31 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you see the mom leave, and know the kids are alone, call the police! Tell them you think you see fire in the house where they live. They will have to intervene.
As for the pre-teens, are they in school? Can you report to the school what you've seen? Don't give up- you may be the only help they have. Keep reporting to the police, the department of children and family services, who ever will pick up the phone!
God bless you for caring!
2007-05-21 19:15:35 · answer #4 · answered by dizzkat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Be persistent and keep on calling! If you know for sure they are being left alone, call the police. The police will make sure that family services intervenes. Don't give up on this. These kids need a safe place to live. Also, if any of the kids are school age, you could call the school and explain the situation to them. They may be able to get the ball rolling.
2007-05-21 17:40:51 · answer #5 · answered by che_rae_gra53 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What a terrible situation you are in! I would call again and if nothings done i think the police might be the only other alternative. You have done the right thing but be careful cos if the parents find out what you've done thery're not going to be happy, to say the least! I hope you are doing this anonymously?
Good Luck!
2007-05-17 21:01:13 · answer #6 · answered by Mez 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Try again to get through to HHS and if they don't respond fast enough to your satisfaction, call your local police department.
2007-05-17 20:33:16 · answer #7 · answered by ? 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Instead of waiting for someone's help, try to do something what you feel yourself
2007-05-17 20:43:27 · answer #8 · answered by madlymadrks 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋