Should I Report This To CPS???

[Blackcat31]

I'm not sure how CPS is for other but where I live, our intake person is wonderful and when I have concerns or see red flags regarding children I care for I call. I just say, "Something has me a bit concerned and I just want you to document it in case it needs to be referenced later." Then they document it and keep it in a file and I also document it as well.

However, I would still discuss it with DCM as other poster's have stated. Good luck....These are the things that make being a daycare provider tough.

[Lilbutterflie]

DCM just called from work. She has the same concerns I do. I also told her about the role-playing on hunger that I have noticed this morning on more than one occasion. She actually scolded her doll for "eating too much dinner!!"

I told her I was going to call CPS and see if this is reportable. She said she was going to call her Pediatrician to see what he said. She called me back right away and said she has an appt to see her Dr. first thing tomorrow morning. DCM is worried that if I call CPS it will somehow reflect on her since she cares for them most of the time. I told her the report would ONLY be on him. She then asked if I would hold off making that call until we could see exactly how much weight she has lost according to their scales (she was weighed in at the Dr.'s office right before she left to go see DCD). I agreed, plus if the Dr. feels there has been abuse or neglect, he will also be reporting it too; so I feel better about holding off. UGH. What a terrible situation. And all in my 2nd year of daycare!

Thanks everyone for your support and advice. It's greatly appreciated!

[DCMomOf3]

Please keep us updated! I feel really badly for the little girl and her mother.

[TGT09]

Oh good, it sounds like mom is on her toes about it! I'm glad because it's a sticky, tough situation! I didn't mean any harm in my posts so I hope you didn't take it that way. I just know if it were me that I would hate myself forever if something happened to the little girl and I never stuck up for her. I'm so sorry you are dealing with this but at least dcm is on the same page as you.

[laundrymom]

I wouldn't call CPA. I would journal everything. Mom is getting things moving. I would write everything down. Food amounts conversations. Behaviors. So mom has leg to stand on. No more suestions though that could be considered coaching. Only write what they tell u and never ask them to just let them talk on their own. My heart aches for all of u

[WImom]

Glad to see mom is doing everything she can. Keep us updated. Poor little girl. I wonder if the dad only let the boy eat?

[Unregistered]

I have gone through this, too (sexual abuse in this case). Only I really should have reported what I noticed, but was really inexperienced in this type of thing. The child I'm talking about does some really really weird things and seems developmentally behind, and role plays sometimes in ways no other 3 yr old does, and one time she was pretending something and what she did really concerned me for a child her age. Then she told me something that made me wonder. I immediately called mom (who was not with this guy anymore). Apparently I should have called CPS but because I didn't have any REAL proof and didn't know what I was supposed to do, I didn't. Well a year later he's on trial, but without any proof or reports from me, and dcg won't talk about it, he may get off. Someone from CPS called a few weeks ago and really let me have it, saying it was my fault if he won, and on and on. I even wondered if I would end up in court over not reporting.
So for your own sake, if nothing else, I would call CPS and ask if it's anything I should report. I did ask them about another child later, and they told me exactly what I should do (which in that case they said to just keep an eye on it, but otherwise not worry about it) It was so nice to be able to leave it in their hands without causing problems for the dad if it wasn't anything that needed reported.
Keep us posted. I am a member but signed out because of the content of my post.

[Lilbutterflie]

UPDATE: DCG went to her pediatrician today. She had only lost 2 pounds according to their scale. The doctor said it was not something to be concerned about and that it wasn't reportable. I wonder though... since she's been eating NONSTOP for 3 whole days how much she's already gained?! I kid you not, she's been eating two of every meal, and snacks every hour!! Oh well.

Even still, with her behavior lately I still think I will call just so that it can at least be documented.

Unregisterd: thank you for sharing your story. I am so sorry that this happened to you, AND that you were chewed out by CPS for this! It's bad enough that you feel guilty, ya know? It's b/c of you that I'm still going to call to see what they say. Thanks.

[Lilbutterflie]

I called CPS to see if it was reportable, and she said it's a borderline case, so it's going in the "future risk" file. She got a whole lot of info from me, so I really do think they will be investigating it.

[SilverSabre25]

Good; I'm glad that you and DCM are on top of it *and* that CPS was willing to take the information.

How's DCG's eating and behavior today?

[TGT09]

I called CPS to see if it was reportable, and she said it's a borderline case, so it's going in the "future risk" file. She got a whole lot of info from me, so I really do think they will be investigating it.

Good! I'm sure it at least feels good to not shoulder ALL the responsibility now.

[Lilbutterflie]

She's a little better today, still ate two portions of breakfast (two large banana & chocolate chip muffins). At lunch, she had a mini breakdown b/c it wasn't one of her favorite lunches (it was alphabet soup with crackers). She ate a few bites and all of her crackers, but that was it. It's hard, b/c my usual rule is you eat what you are given and if it's not your favorite you can make up for it on your next snack or meal. I'm tempted to just give her whatever she asks for b/c I want her to eat; but I decided to stick to my rule. It's not that she didn't LIKE the soup, she likes it just fine. It's just not her favorite.
Her behavior is still different, she's not communicating well and shuts down really easy.

[SilverSabre25]

I still think she needs to be evaluated further by a doctor and a therapist. Sexual abuse (or at least physical/verbal/emotional) abuse is on my mind. Has mom or is mom going to talk to her lawyers?

[countrymom]

I still think she needs to be evaluated further by a doctor and a therapist. Sexual abuse (or at least physical/verbal/emotional) abuse is on my mind. Has mom or is mom going to talk to her lawyers?

this is what I keep thinking too, like a nagging feeling.

[TGT09]

Speaking of CPS, they were just called on my SIL and are due to show up at 4 today. What a lovely family I married into. My DH appears to be the only sane one!