Had To Call CPS For The First Time Today :(

[Blackcat31]

OP-You did the right thing!! This needs to be checked out!! Its better to be safe than sorry.

Crystal, shame should be on YOU!! If a child had centralized bruising on their privates and you didnt make the call, you'd be in violation of being a mandatory reporter! The parents could make the call and blame you!! Its a part of the twisted world we live in!

In Crystal's defense, she never said the OP shouldn't have called. She actually said "Calling CPS was the right thing to do."

The "shame on you" was in reference to lying about who called so OP wouldn't lose a client.

[Unregistered]

Hqgm3a

:confused:

What benefit does a screen shot do for you if you are not the OP or the parent?


....anyways, threads from the forum will NOT be deleted or removed. They can, however be locked if Admin feels they are getting out of hand.

It would not be hard to track down the family.

Internet board posts are used as evidence everyday to help/hinder court cases and/or issues like CPS, traffic accidents, drug trafficking etc.

[Blackcat31]

It would not be hard to track down the family.

Internet board posts are used as evidence everyday to help/hinder court cases and/or issues like CPS, traffic accidents, drug trafficking etc.

I know that..... I was just wondering what purpose saving this thread as a screen shot does for YOU....unless you are the OP or someone directly involved in this case...kwim?

I wholeheartedly agree with the idea of being wise about posting confidential and/or controversial stuff on an open and public forum.

[Sugar Magnolia]

Cristina, do you have an update? We are all concerned for the little girl. I am concerned about YOU being ok too.

[Sugar Magnolia]

I am not very internet saavy Blackcat, what is a screen shot?

[Blackcat31]

I am not very internet saavy Blackcat, what is a screen shot?

That's ok....I have spent an enormous amount of time googling things I have no idea about.....technology confuses me all the time

Anyways, a screen shot is an image of what is on screen: a photograph or printout showing what appears on a computer screen

[daycare]

That's ok....I have spent an enormous amount of time googling things I have no idea about.....technology confuses me all the time

Anyways, a screen shot is an image of what is on screen: a photograph or printout showing what appears on a computer screen

you hit either control A, selecting everything on the screen and then control P or print screen and you have a sceen shot that you can print out

[countrymom]

why would someone do a screen shot sounds like someone causing trouble here.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

What if it wasn't a diaper rash, but a clear hand-shaped bruise on the child's upper arm or back or rear end? Would you wait to call CPS and talk to the parents first? Or would you call immediately? We are mandated reporters--we are supposed to call CPS for even suspicions of abuse. That doesn't mean a clear pattern--abuse doesn't have to have a pattern to be wrong. ONCE is wrong.

And especially in the case of something like this, you don't even want to THINK that your delay in calling might mean it might happen again. I've never seen or heard of a diaper rash that looked bruised and was as localized as the OP described. A bleeding rash is one thing, those can happen pretty suddenly sometimes, but bruised? Not so much. Bruises require trauma. And if something happened that might have been traumatic to that area (say, an older child falling on something) then the father REALLY should have offered up an explanation instead of "she has a rash, there's cream" and zooming out asap.

I absolutely agree.

As for CPS turning their lives upside down ... that will only happen if abuse is occurring. Otherwise, a simple investigation will occur.

[Crystal]

First, let me say, I know I was harsh. Maybe I should have been a little "kinder" in my choice of words, but I meant every word I said.

I find it highly unprofessional to call a family "white trash", and to say that due to the family being "white trash" she was concerned about them rataliating and THEN saying her consultant is the one that reported it...aside from that being a lie, if the OP TRULY felt she may be in danger if the parents found out she reported, then WHY ON EARTH would she put someone else in the exact situation she is afraid of facing herself??? I took it that the OP told the consultant AFTER she had already told the grandma that that may have been who called. Also, I wouldn't have told Grandma squat....she is not the client, the parent's are. I would have simply told her "I am not at liberty to discuss this with you"

I also find it highly unprofessional to talk about an employee in the manner she did, and to be willing to allow this employee to possibly face the wrath of an angry parent without her having any knowledge of what happened is frightening to me.

My first piece of advice was that this information should not be on a public forum. It is confidential information, and trust me, if the parents do happen to read it, they have A LOT of ammo to use against the provider. It has happened here before, it will happen again. Is it likely? Probably not. But, I strongly believe that you shouldn't post anything that has even the slightest possibility of being found by someone you are speaking negatively about....especially a child care family.

OP....I know it was a hard call, and I am sorry it is a situation you have to deal with. I said I would have called CPS as well (perhaps I would not, depends on my own assessment of the situation) because I trust you knew the severity of the rash and bruising and wouldn't take making that call lightly. I do think you did the right thing, as you are the one who has seen it.

[AnneCordelia]

I absolutely agree.

As for CPS turning their lives upside down ... that will only happen if abuse is occurring. Otherwise, a simple investigation will occur.

These investigations are not always simple. They often require doctor examinations, pulling medical records, intrusive questioning of all family members and potential loss of income for time taken off work, as CPS only works 8-4:30. It is potentially more if the family feels they must hire a lawyer to help protect their rights, as many innocents do.

[PolarCare]

What?

So, are you saying that the CPS worker came to your daycare and personally examined the child's diaper area in your presence before the parents were notified, before the child saw a doctor, without the supervision or presence of any medical professional whatsoever, and determined that there was, indeed, cause for concern? Is that CPS procedure?

As a parent, I can tell you this. If I found out that one of my daughter's bare diaper areas had been examined by a stranger without my permission, to investigate alleged wrongdoing or abuse, without the notification and supervision of a doctor or nurse trained in this matter, I would be livid. LIVID.

I completely understand that when it comes to abuse, it's "better safe than sorry" but this whole thing really sounds fishy.

[AnneCordelia]

So, are you saying that the CPS worker came to your daycare and personally examined the child's diaper area in your presence before the parents were notified, before the child saw a doctor, without the supervision or presence of any medical professional whatsoever, and determined that there was, indeed, cause for concern? Is that CPS procedure?

As a parent, I can tell you this. If I found out that one of my daughter's bare diaper areas had been examined by a stranger without my permission, to investigate alleged wrongdoing or abuse, without the notification and supervision of a doctor or nurse trained in this matter, I would be livid. LIVID.

I completely understand that when it comes to abuse, it's "better safe than sorry" but this whole thing really sounds fishy.

Here in Canada that's against our Charter of Rights and Freedoms and grounds for civil law suit. Unless a CPS worker has reasonable grounds to believe the child is at immediate and great risk to their health or safety they cannot detain that child without the parents informed consent. Examining a child without permission is detaining.

I am not saying these things to be a pain in the OPs butt or to be insensitive but we need to understand our obligations to protect the basic rights of these children in our charge, which can include requiring CPS and like organizations to do their investigations through the parents. Our responsibility is to report, but not necessarily to allow access to the child without the parents permission unless the agent comes with a police escort or a warrant, here in Ontario Canada.

[christinaskids]

SHAME ON THOSE OF YOU GIVING HER FLACK!! It really concerns me that a very sudden rash especially in a child thats never had one WITH bruising seems ok to some of you. It is not your job to determine abuse, just report it. CPS has forensic psychologists and doctors, I would say they are much more equipped to handle the determination of abuse. And yes, CPS can take children. They are an entity that was given that power. My husband reported abuse and met CPS at 3 pm, kids were gone at 8 pm. I do not agree they are the be all and end all to make happy families but it seems something has to be done about SUSPECTED RAPE IN A 2 YEAR OLD GIRL. This wasnt merely a spanking.

[My3cents]

First, let me say, I know I was harsh. Maybe I should have been a little "kinder" in my choice of words, but I meant every word I said.

I find it highly unprofessional to call a family "white trash", and to say that due to the family being "white trash" she was concerned about them rataliating and THEN saying her consultant is the one that reported it...aside from that being a lie, if the OP TRULY felt she may be in danger if the parents found out she reported, then WHY ON EARTH would she put someone else in the exact situation she is afraid of facing herself??? I took it that the OP told the consultant AFTER she had already told the grandma that that may have been who called. Also, I wouldn't have told Grandma squat....she is not the client, the parent's are. I would have simply told her "I am not at liberty to discuss this with you"I agree with this too, never tell Gram anything, deal with the parents. I also question, why wouldn't you be there to deal with this issue and leave someone that your thinking of firing to take this on, not knowing. I took it that OP vented here and really did not have time to process- or the experience and experiences.

I also find it highly unprofessional to talk about an employee in the manner she did, and to be willing to allow this employee to possibly face the wrath of an angry parent without her having any knowledge of what happened is frightening to me.

My first piece of advice was that this information should not be on a public forum. It is confidential information, and trust me, if the parents do happen to read it, they have A LOT of ammo to use against the provider. It has happened here before, it will happen again. Is it likely? Probably not. But, I strongly believe that you shouldn't post anything that has even the slightest possibility of being found by someone you are speaking negatively about....especially a child care family.I agree but you should still come to the forum and be able to post,vent and just do it logged out and with out using names and personal information. This OP clearly needed our help ladies- and men.

OP....I know it was a hard call, and I am sorry it is a situation you have to deal with. I said I would have called CPS as well (perhaps I would not, depends on my own assessment of the situation) because I trust you knew the severity of the rash and bruising and wouldn't take making that call lightly. I do think you did the right thing, as you are the one who has seen it.

Crystal- thank you for polishing your post- because I agree with this, and hopefully others will be able to relate or find help here-