This Case Got Me Thinking...

[daycarediva]

how far would YOU go to protect a child in your care?

http://www.startribune.com/opinion/editorials/274170881.html

http://www.startribune.com/local/273325741.html

At day care, Myslicki said the signs of abuse stopped for a few months until one morning in August 2012. Peltier was furious with Eric when she came to pick him up, Myslicki said. The boy cowered as Myslicki held on to him. Peltier slapped Eric out of her hands, knocking him to the floor, and yelled at him to get his shoes on, according to Myslicki.

Myslicki made her final report to the county.

“If that’s not maltreatment,” Myslicki said, “I don’t know what is.”

The county screened out the report. Myslicki said child protection told her that if she had any further problems with Peltier and Eric, she should contact her day-care licenser.

Myslicki said the bruises, bleeding ears and bite marks started to reappear. Eric continued to tell her his stepmother was hurting him. But she stopped filing reports.

“What good would it have done?” she said.

In October 2012, two months after Myslicki’s last report, Peltier pulled Eric out of the day care. She started caring for him and the five other children in the blended family in their Starbuck home. It was there that Eric would suffer the final abuse.

I would have called 911 when she slapped him out of my hands. I would have called CPS daily before then, but witnessing abuse? IMMEDIATE 911 phone call.

Numerous bites, bruises, scratches and bleeding and the child readily fearful of his step mother and verbally saying mommy did it.

I cannot imagine what that provider is going through. I just cannot imagine.

[Blackcat31]

This happened in my state.

I was involved in an abuse case years ago where I have documentation of calling CPS and reporting physical, emotional and verbal abuse (as a witness myself). 911 calls included.

NOTHING was done for over 3 years!!

I had pictures, evidence, recordings, documentation etc....

It was the worst experience of my life as far as daycare goes.

3.5 years and another child added to the mix before CPS stepped in an did anything.

Ultimately the parent lost custody. Eventually they regained custody of the youngest child and moved out of state.

I had to place a restraining order on the parent but it didn't guarantee there was no further contact.

It was tough and in hindsight, its easy to say more could have or should have been done but it isn't always that easy or that cut and dried.

My heart breaks for kids stuck in these situations.

I also feel for the CPS workers too though....they are severely over worked and don't have the time, man power and or resources to always be able to just step in and save the day. It's so complicated that there will always be those that are lost. Sad and tragic no matter how you look at it.

[daycarediva]

thank you for the insight BC. In my state that would NOT fly. It was in the local news a few weeks ago, a mother slapped her child's hand in the grocery store and was arrested before she left the store.

It's just so heartbreaking.

[Leigh]

I've been there, too, making report after report and nothing happens. The laws are just not strong enough to protect children. Even when CPS FINALLY did want to pursue charges, the police department refused to proceed. The child I reported on is still being abused to this day, and it breaks my heart. I've been as far as Washington, D.C. begging for help for this child. Nothing happens.

[MyAngels]

I find it shocking that 7 out of 10 reports don't even get followed up on in Minnesota. It makes me wonder what the stats are in other states and in our country as a whole.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I live in the south.
My teenager suffered years of abuse and neglect where CPS DID come and investigate many times. Even the biological father of the 2 youngest (my son is the 4th) called CPS directly stating what was happening, and he was not a "good guy" (he was in prison for murder and just passed away last week). They never removed my son from her home.

We did not adopt him from foster care. She gave him to us, wanted him back when the state began asking questions (she lived off gov. assistance), and we went to court for 6 months (while he remained in our care) and we won. It is rare, but with all of the evidence we had it would have been a scary thing for a judge to NOT to what he did.

All of that to say, sometimes CPS is aware. Sometimes, they have come to investigate. Sometimes, they leave those children in their parent's care because they believe that the biological family is the family that should have them (sometimes adding in stipulations like parenting classes must be attended and sometimes doing nothing at all, like in my son's case).

I am a believer that CPS should be made aware of ANYTHING that we THINK might be abuse despite all of that. I do think a record is important.

[Heidi]

thank you for the insight BC. In my state that would NOT fly. It was in the local news a few weeks ago, a mother slapped her child's hand in the grocery store and was arrested before she left the store.

It's just so heartbreaking.

Just wonderful!

Talk about wasted resources. Of course, that's always the "reason" they don't investigate real abuse...lack of resources.

[daycarediva]

Just wonderful!

Talk about wasted resources. Of course, that's always the "reason" they don't investigate real abuse...lack of resources.

ITA- many came out in support of the mom, and the charges were eventually dropped (or lowered, can't remember which). The kicker? they were going through a buffet and the child was about to touch the hot serving platter. So although the mother claimed she had never laid a hand on her child, it was instinct/not thinking and keeping him safe. what a mess!

Thank goodness you have your son, ECS! His situation is exactly what I mean, the ones who fall through the cracks.

Leigh- that breaks my heart.

I have called cps on a step father before. They had the father move out----and he's right back in the home. He doesn't LIVE there, but he still has access to the kids on a regular basis. His mother should be the one held responsible as well if anything ever happens to that kid again!

[KidGrind]

how far would YOU go to protect a child in your care?

http://www.startribune.com/opinion/editorials/274170881.html

http://www.startribune.com/local/273325741.html

I would have called 911 when she slapped him out of my hands. I would have called CPS daily before then, but witnessing abuse? IMMEDIATE 911 phone call.

Numerous bites, bruises, scratches and bleeding and the child readily fearful of his step mother and verbally saying mommy did it.

I cannot imagine what that provider is going through. I just cannot imagine.

I would go as far as the law would allow me. If I didn’t have a family of my own who counts on me, I might go further.

[Thriftylady]

I made a report on a "friend" a few years ago. I KNOW her child was being mistreated. Not so much by her choice but by her husband and by choices she was making. When I called they basically told me that "he can't be overweight and not be fed properly" and that "even though mom told me that dad abused him he couldn't be abused if she didn't report it". I have lost all faith in the system.

[lblanke]

In Tennessee, mandatory reporting is required to one of the following places:

Call 911 if the situation is a life threatening emergency. In other cases, a report of child abuse or child sexual abuse must be made immediately to one of the following four authorities:
• The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (reports can be made by calling the Central Intake Child Abuse Hotline at 1-877-237-0004);
• The sheriff of the county where the child resides;
• The chief law enforcement official of the city where the child resides; or
• A judge having juvenile jurisdiction over the child.

Hopefully no one ever needs this, but perhaps is DCS is not responsive (as in this tragic case), reaching out to report to another source would be another option. A daycare provider should never be told not to call anymore. Most providers have only the best interest of the child in mind and no secondary gain (like a child custody battle). I did not know they had the option not to investigate a report of suspected abuse, especially from a teacher or child care provider.

[Unregistered]

I would keep reporting even if they told me to stop. We are mandated reporters. If we suspect a problem reporting is what we are required to do. I would need to know I did ALL I could legally do and that I explored all options of reporting.

[Blackcat31]

In Tennessee, mandatory reporting is required to one of the following places:

Call 911 if the situation is a life threatening emergency. In other cases, a report of child abuse or child sexual abuse must be made immediately to one of the following four authorities:
• The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (reports can be made by calling the Central Intake Child Abuse Hotline at 1-877-237-0004);
• The sheriff of the county where the child resides;
• The chief law enforcement official of the city where the child resides; or
• A judge having juvenile jurisdiction over the child.

Hopefully no one ever needs this, but perhaps is DCS is not responsive (as in this tragic case), reaching out to report to another source would be another option. A daycare provider should never be told not to call anymore. Most providers have only the best interest of the child in mind and no secondary gain (like a child custody battle). I did not know they had the option not to investigate a report of suspected abuse, especially from a teacher or child care provider.

THAT'S a big part of the issue....

What constitutes abuse to one person is not abuse to another.

Deciding when and when not to investigate should be the focus to changing rules/laws.

DHS and other agencies that manage these types of things need to have clear definitions of abuse/neglect and maltreatment.

I've seen a ton of posts here where providers disagree about a situation being abusive or not.

IMHO, that is why so much gets lost, overlooked or not addressed fast enough.

[Dilley Beans]

I have a couple of friends who are cops. I hope that if this situation ever comes up with my kiddos, I will be able to pull a favor for them.

[Dilley Beans]

...at least get their ear about it.