Blackened Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 So, quick question... If you knew that children were being verbally abused (called names, etc) and that drugs were being done in the house in front of them, would you call cps or mind your own business? CPS= Child Protective Services This is something I'm debating on. Link to post Share on other sites
mopar crazy Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 Call CPS! You can do it anonymously. Not only is the name calling going to cause some self-esteem issues but it scars children for life. They don't deserve that treatment. As for the drugs, yep call CPS. It's a hard call to make, I have had to do it, but think of the children. Link to post Share on other sites
Lucky_One Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 I would call (I have to call, anyway - a job issue), but I will tell you this. The name-calling is not going to trigger much response at most CPS. They tend to be swamped and not have adequate personnel, and so less pressing cases fall through the cracks or to the bottom of the queue. They aren't going to care so much about emotional abuse as they are about physical abuse. Sad as it is, the drug issue will help to spur action. The worse the case, the quicker and more intense the action. At the least, there will be a home visit, and perhaps this will shock the caregivers into better parenting. You can do this anonymously, but you will give up your rights to find out any follow-up. If you give your name, then there is a chance that this family will find out it was you. It is always a catch-22. Link to post Share on other sites
Star Gazer Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 I would call (I have to call, anyway - a job issue)... I have a legal duty to report as well, but even if I didn't, I would - for the drug use, anyway. Link to post Share on other sites
kimmi Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 Help these kids please by calling. Your never a bad person for calling you are a bad person when one does nothing to help helpless kids that are in these situations. I think that people that know about these situations and do nothing about them are guilty as well. I know this can be hard as I have to report many bad things at the present time but I look at it as I am this child's voice. Link to post Share on other sites
turnera Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 You could be helping these parents LEARN what it means to be a good parent by your calling. If you call, they will likely have to get at least counseling on how to raise kids better. Link to post Share on other sites
AHardDaysNight Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 I'd say that the drug issues are the big problem, and that's what CPS should be called for. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Blackened Posted October 23, 2011 Author Share Posted October 23, 2011 The only thing that was stopping me was I was afraid they would find out I called. These people are my neighbors. I saw the older daughter throw a piece of wood at the younger daughter a week or so ago and it hit her so hard she started crying. And then the dad started screaming at her calling her a little b**** and telling her to stop acting like a crybaby because life is hard. There was more to it then that though, he said some really nasty things. And this poor little girl just got hit with a piece of wood. And the mom sits out on the porch and smokes pot all day. Link to post Share on other sites
turnera Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 You can always make a call anonymously. Link to post Share on other sites
carhill Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 OP, if you're worried about your anonymity, secure it by calling from a phone not traceable to yourself, generally a public phone. CPS can't force any information out of you, so just tell them the story, give them the location details and end the call. Link to post Share on other sites
Lucky_One Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 They get anonymous calls all day long, so they are used to those. If the mom tends to sit every day at the same time (like she always sits on the porch smoking the hour before the school bus comes), then make sure you mention that. If they could see/smell evidence of drug use, it really helps; they can't "search" but they can certainly record that there was a strong smell of marijuana in the porch and in the house. Link to post Share on other sites
Mystique2011 Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 Call them for sure. But, I agree there's a chance that not much may be done if there's no evidence. What you could do is to keep filing or encourage someone else you know that knows about the situation. More calls will get a response. Even if nothing gets done, you still advocated for the kid and tried to save them. Kids grow up into adults and say "Why didn't any of the adults around me do anything? " Link to post Share on other sites
Eve Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 I would still make the call but not give away my identity. Others probably have called too, so a picture is probably building. Pass on any names if you have them, especially of persons coming to the home. Often it is the case that key names will trigger a response. Take care, Eve x Link to post Share on other sites
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