Should I call social services on my neighbors?

Question

I live in a building and the walls where I live are unfortunately very thin. My neighbors consist of a husband a wife they have 2 kids a 24 year old and an 8 year old little girl. The wife is an alcoholic and one day when i was leaving my apartment she came up to me all drunk and talking to me about her husband she said that her daughter moved out at the age of 16 because her husband was molesting her now i don't know if she was lying because she was drunk and wasn't normal, but there was this other time I heard her talking on the phone with someone and saying that her husband is a pedofile. I'm afraid because they have an 8 year old daughter and i fear for her safety. I want to call social services, but I don't know if I should because this women might be lying she's a psychopath and i wonder why she hasn't done anything about it if it was true. I don't want to call and make any kind of faulse accusations. I need help with this. What should I do? What would you do?

Answer 1

Just on the grounds of the mother being an active alcoholic is enough reason to call child protective services, and when you add in the possibility that the child could be being molested sexually on top of that .... well then, don't you honestly think it is justified to save this little girl even if it is "just" the alcoholism. Of course, she will probably be removed to live in foster care until her mother can get help with her problem.....or God forbid, the daughter is left to live with the father alone while the mother is getting help. It's possible that the mother is traumatized by the past event of what she told you concerning her other daughter and that could be one reason she is drinking....that and the fear that he will also touch the younger daughter. I'm pretty sure the mom is on top of the situation since she obviously is unpleasantly aware. How does the child "look", meaning does she appear to look withdrawn or anything which would suggest something was amiss? Let's pray that she isn't being hurt and if at all possible, why don't you let her know that if she ever needs help she should holler or bang on the wall and you will check on her. This is a very sad situation. I pray everything will turn out for the best. Thank you for being a good neighbor.

Answer 2

First off, even if she is lying this is a very unhealthy place for a young child to be living in.
Second, if her husband is a pedophile, she may not know what to do. I know, sad but true. It's her husband and I am under the impression (due to the age gap) that the elder daughter may be a step daughter to the husband and at the time because the daughter was so old when she confronted the mother about her abusive (step-)father, the mother may have not wanted to believe "her darling" husband could do such a thing. If it did happen it was "obviously" because the daughter seduced her husband thus forcing the daughter to move out either by her mother or on her own accord. The mother feeling guilty became a lush. Now the mother may be noticing things she didn't notice before when her elder daughter was younger because the seed of doubt has lingered for so long. Maybe "Daddy" takes too long tucking their daughter in, maybe her baby girl is quieter than she used to be, what ever it is maybe "Mommy Dearest" is finally noticing but with out sufficiant proof feels trapped and helpless. Maybe her outbursts about her husband being a pedophile are cries for help.
Call social services on them and feel no guilt because obviously this little girl as well as the elder needs help. (Yes, I understand the elder could move out but you mention she left at 16 so I am assuming she returned, probably to protect her baby sister)

Answer 3

Better safe than sorry. Besides it can be kept confidential that you are the one that called. They can check on the welfare of the little girl and make sure she is OK. And if things are bad for her won't you be glad that she will finally be out of that situation and if things are fine then your mind will be at ease. I would hope that if i was being molested and too young to know what was going on that there would be knight in shining armor to come rescue me, maybe she needs a knight and maybe she does not, only an investigation into the matter will tell you for sure.

Answer 4

I think you should report, then child services can investigate. Think of how sorry you will feel if it turns out later that he is doing something to this little girl and you never reported t when you could have. It is a hard call to make, but for the sake of the child it could be worth it.

Answer 5

Yes. What if you were the 8 year old daughter?
If you can talk to her ask her if the girl is safe.
Tape what she says. It's legal evidence.
No-one will know it was you if you just call also
mention the mum is alcoholic.

Answer 6

you should consider calling social services. what if what she is saying is true, you do not want those poor children in that situation. you can be anonymous when you call social service. i would call since thier 16 yr old daughter moved out, shouldn't that be a sign?

Answer 7

Report the family to children services and let them take it from there. Be aware that not all children services workers comply with the rules of keeping the reporter's identity confidential. You do have the right to refuse to give your name.

Answer 8

I would call and tell them what you have said. That you don't know if it is true and what the mother told you. You might save that little girl. They will take it from there.

Answer 9

I would make the report (you don't have to say your name or any of that- which is sometimes better). Let them take it from there- what do you have to lose? Nothing! You might be protecting/changing that little girls life for the better.

Answer 10

Call Social services....tell them exactly what you know and let them decide where to go with this.....your civil duty is to take initiative and call it in for the childrens sake and everyone involved who might need help! Please call it in! Help a child!