A sad story and one that has haunted me since it happened...?

Question

I was wondering what would you have thought was the best solution to this problem?

It happened last winter, during a particularly cold snap (our climate is usually fairly temperate even in winter), I went with a friend who is a social worker to do a home visit...when we arrived it was to a partially wrecked home next to a bayou out in the country...since Hurricane Katrina has left many ill-housed in the last two years, this is no shocker)...smoke billowed out of the door of the dwelling and an old man was dipping water out of the bayou to put out the source of the fire...they had tried to build a fire in an old stove but had inadequate pipe, so the smoke was coming back into the house...a baby was sitting in the driveway in a play pen unattended...the situation was one of squalor and hopelessness...the temperature was due to dip into the 20s that night...so my friend reluctantly called the department of human services to come to get the baby...she hated to do it...(cont)

human services came out and took the baby...later we heard that a judge had made a ruling to have the child removed from that home already and they were to come get the child that day...still late we heard that the child had been put in a foster home and that the man in the foster home had been accused of molesting ALL the children in his care...that child has so little going for it in this world...so any comments on this situation? It still causes me pain 8 months after it happened...

Answer 1

One could make this a political argument about the nature of too much government imposition, but basically it all boils down to this: "the road to hell is paved with good intentions." Certainly everyone involved had the best interests of the child in mind, but people need to wake up and see that we can no longer force our ways on other people. Weather it be nations or families, live and let live.

My advice would be to learn from what you have seen, and do what you can to find a better solution, if it should be in your power.

Answer 2

Perdita.... Since a judge had already made a previous ruling to have the child removed from the home, you should not feel guilt on that matter... It was the responsibility of the worker to make a call... you did not have the legal authority, so, there again, you should not have guilt.

I do wonder though as to why the child was to be removed...due to housing conditions or something else?

The child was in a playpen away from the smoke while they tried to put out the fire... you did not mention if the child was dressed warmly or appropriate though... still, this shows they had the safety of the child in mind, and, since they were in the country, few visitors would have been using their driveway.

I cannot presume to tell you what you should have done... or if materials were available for helping the family with stove pipe or anything else that could have helped them keep their child...as you stated, their home was typical after Katrina...not by their choice but by something beyond their control....that aside, since I do not know whether they may have abused or neglected the child in past OR present time, I cannot judge even if I wanted to.

Would I personally have tried to do anything? Possibly...but, it would only be a temporary or short term "fix" and may have resulted in the child going anyway. Have run into "roadblocks" before through the systems...frustrating and doesn't do any good to dwell on it.

[Unfortunately, it is through these type of events that we see how child abusers are allowed to remain in foster care!]

Prayer is about all we can do beyond temp measures.

May you find Peace. :)

Answer 3

I was thinking they had put the baby in the playpen in order to protect it from the smoke. Were they asked why the baby was there? When you had the knowledge of where the baby was placed did you do anything about it. If not this was a mistake. Standing up for what is right regardless of who is the boss. Why did the agency put the child there? The agency should be reported.

Answer 4

This is a tough one. My first thought is why didn't you help the old man and the baby. Both needed help. Where were the churches? Why couldn't a church take the old man and the baby in to help them out? Where is the Good Samaritan?

The old man loved that baby enough to get it out of that house before he put out the fire. You have an old man doing all that he can do and no one helped him. You took the baby away from him and put the baby in a foster home with a Freak.

There is nothing wrong with being poor. Poor still loves! It is the rich who have forgotten how to love!!!!!

Answer 5

It seems all the right steps were taken and have ended in a terrible result...atleast in our eyes. But God sees everything and you must not forget that His plans are at work...even when it looks completely hopeless. I'm speaking as someone who has survived suicidal tendancies through the grace of God. Pray it into His able hands and do not burden yourself any further. It could be the devils' way of putting doubt into your faith. Trust God.

Answer 6

I think you did the right thing...that baby would have probably suffered if you hadn't. It is sad. I would keep praying for the baby and that God will help the baby find a good, loving home.

Answer 7

Goodness, what a sad story. I'd consider talking to a counselor about the guilt you still feel, and try and work through it.

Answer 8

pray about it! let God take it away from you...ask him!