Neglect

[mema]

I would call. Let CPS decide if something needs to be done-that's their job. Glad that you were able to help her while in your care tho.

[Chatter Box]

Thank you. What happens when you call? Not that it matters but just curious. What all do they make you do? I'm afraid they will get po'ed and so something to my property if they know I called.

[Blackcat31]

Thank you. What happens when you call? Not that it matters but just curious.

They will take whatever you say and document it.

I would assume they then would investigate.

You have no idea if they have had other calls or not or if they have a file an inch thick on this family.

If nothing comes of it, the call/report is still documented and left in the family's file. The next time someone calls it makes a difference if there has already been a call on the family before....kwim?

So basically, you just call and tell them what you know. You don't have to offer up proof...just that you wanted someone to be aware.

Sometimes a small tiny piece is the piece that finished off the puzzle. You just never know for sure....which is why I always err on the side of caution.

It can't hurt to call but it CAN hurt to NOT call.

[Chatter Box]

They will take whatever you say and document it.

I would assume they then would investigate.

You have no idea if they have had other calls or not or if they have a file an inch thick on this family.

If nothing comes of it, the call/report is still documented and left in the family's file. The next time someone calls it makes a difference if there has already been a call on the family before....kwim?

So basically, you just call and tell them what you know. You don't have to offer up proof...just that you wanted someone to be aware.

Sometimes a small tiny piece is the piece that finished off the puzzle. You just never know for sure....which is why I always err on the side of caution.

It can't hurt to call but it CAN hurt to NOT call.

Do they get details on who called if they do investigate ?

[Blackcat31]

Do they get details on who called if they do investigate ?

No. The agency will NEVER reveal who reported but in most cases, depending on the nature of the call, it isn't usually too tough to figure out who called...kwim?

A couple times when I called the info I gave could have come from anyone so the family had no idea and a few other times the situations I reported would only have been known by the child care provider so the family knew it was me immediately.

I can't say for sure in your situation that the family would know because it depends on what you are reporting but still it is the right thing to do.

Kids need more than just their parents to be a voice for them. It is one of the hardest parts of being in this profession but it is also one that is unavoidable at times.

[Chatter Box]

It all depends on how much information they get really whether they figure it out for sure I think. I'm sure I will be the first thought but she also was in the hospital last week and like I said I'm just confused at how the doctor could be missing all of this.

I did elect to give them my notice which I gave them this week after we all cooled off. So she has been here but mom has stopped picking her up and dropping her off i think because she is mad so I think since she's on vacation next week they will not bring her or call as a parting shot... Which honestly is fine but I know they will know its me when I call if CPS investigates.

[Blackcat31]

It all depends on how much information they get really whether they figure it out for sure I think. I'm sure I will be the first thought but she also was in the hospital last week and like I said I'm just confused at how the doctor could be missing all of this.
I did elect to give them my notice which I gave them this week after we all cooled off. So she has been here but mom has stopped picking her up and dropping her off i think because she is mad so I think since she's on vacation next week they will not bring her or call as a parting shot... Which honestly is fine but I know they will know its me when I call if CPS investigates.

You don't know though that the doctor is missing anything. Maybe there is already an on-going investigation and the family isn't aware yet....

It's kind of like a police show...they gather evidence and information before they go in and raid the place.....kwim?

If this family is leaving, I wouldn't hesitate to call. What are they going to do tell people you were concerned about their children?!

.....sorry for the sarcasm, I know this is a serious issue but honestly if I were you I would call and wouldn't look back.

You are doing the right thing as I said in my earlier post, if you don't call it could mean the difference for a child.

The social workers do whatever they can to protect the people who report things so don't worry too much about that. I am not saying families don't sometimes figure it out but that is a small price to pay for doing what is right by a child.

[Chatter Box]

I'm going to call. It seems like if CPS went after them after my one call that it would only be because other people have called. I'm honestly wondering if they gave me a crap story about their last provider at this point.

[bluemoose_mom]

As someone who's had to call on a family member...call! Though in my case it was not a suspicion, but a known fact (30 year old brother slept--not sure if it consequential--not that it matters---with 15 year old sister). He admitted it via text with a cousin. Court next month.

It's really not so bad. I stressed and stressed over it, but in the end, your conscience will be clear.

In what you're describing, I would call. I probably would have called earlier, honestly.

[NeedaVaca]

I do NOT think it is up to us to decide what constitutes abuse or poor parenting.

I think our role as mandated reporters is to call whenever we SUSPECT something. ANYTHING.

I have called CPS on several occasions over the last two decades and I can tell you under no uncertain terms that the biggest most shocking case was a mom that had everyone completely fooled.

There was not even the tiniest clue to the depths of what was really going on.

Classic case of what most providers would brush off as an "off day" or maybe even a little bit of bad parenting. That was NOT the case.

I HIGHLY recommend calling if you ever suspect anything. It could mean the difference between saving a child's life or not.

I could have justified every single "clue" or "sign" that went on with this family very easily but my gut just told me something was off.

I called based on my gut instincts.

Please don't ever hesitate to call.

If there is even a reason to make you ask if you should call, I think that is enough to make that call.

[jenn]

If in doubt, call. Period.

You are supposed to report anything you suspect, and obviously you suspect something to be not quite right. How severe the "not right" is will be up to investigators. Sometimes the child needs out of the home, sometimes the family needs educated, sometimes everything checks out fine. At least by calling, you know you have done everything you can to support this child physically, mentally, and emotionally.

I know it's hard to call, and there is the worry of the family finding out or knowing who called. It can be scary, but what this child is going through might be scarier.

[Chatter Box]

Another question.... they both have moved recently and I don't have their current addresses. Mom mentioned a couple weeks ago that she had recently switched apartments and I didn't get the updated info yet. I just found out this week that they are not even together still. I have no idea where he is living. Does that matter that I don't know where they live now? I know I still have to report it but how do they locate where they are living. Mom is also in the process of closing on a new house next week which is why she is on vacation, so she will be moving again next week as well.

[jenn]

Not sure...I would just give them the info you have. (Last known address)

[bunnyslippers]

I would absolutely call. You would never forgive yourself if something worse happened to this child in the future.

I once called regarding a student in my class. He had been found, by my teaching assistant, walking down a highway in town. He was four, and wearing only a diaper. This was a non-verbal child with autism. My assistant brought him home, and no one in the house had even known he was gone (it was a Saturday morning, around 10).

I filed a report with CPS. Nothing was done at the time, but they did put it on file and investigate briefly. Six months later, that same child left home again, and fell into a neighbor's pool. He almost died. After that incident, CPS stepped in more and investigated fully. Had my initial report not been there, it probably would have been viewed as a one-time accident. It was pure neglect.

Always err on the side of caution. You could save a child's life.