A Little Help?

[Thriftylady]

I have an issue I need input on.

Knowing I was a daycare provider before and knowing I am trying to get it going again.... I am a mandated reporter.

Enter into picture that a little girl down the street lives with mom and grandparents and I have caught her lying before. Also she has little supervision, I think often they have no clue who or where she is. I found out tonight mom is PG again. She tells me dad has a girlfriend, and she doesn't like girl. But girl tells me "my dad kicked me in my chest". I ask her when and she has no real answer. I ask her if she told mom and she says "yes but she doesn't care".

Do I report this??? I feel it is my job to report, not my job to investigate but I also feel like she is likely lying and it is going to be known where it comes from and could be bad for my business. I did tell girl to tell teacher and principal.

What would you do????

ETA: I have reported on a situation before, and they told me if I had no proof I must be lying or not really know what was going on. In Kansas it was different, they checked out every report, in Ohio, I guess you need proof??? I just don't know what I should do.

[Leigh]

Report and let CPS decide whether it is unfounded. Don't ask the girl anything more about it-we're not trained to interview these kids, and asking too many questions about it could muddle the investigation.

[DaveA]

If you feel you should report it, go ahead.

[preschoolteacher]

Report and CPS will deal. How would it damage your business? Even if it's unfounded, a child who lies to you would likely lie to others. I'm not sure how it would get back to you.

As a parent hearing you called CPS on an issue, I'd be glad you were responsible and we're looking out. I would not see it as a negative.

[Thriftylady]

Report and CPS will deal. How would it damage your business? Even if it's unfounded, a child who lies to you would likely lie to others. I'm not sure how it would get back to you.

As a parent hearing you called CPS on an issue, I'd be glad you were responsible and we're looking out. I would not see it as a negative.

I agree with you to an extent. My ex husband was abusive to me and although I thought he was good to the kids I found out later I was wrong he threatened not only them but anyone who he didn't trust. Yes I was blind, but I wonder now how many people he really hurt.

[jenboo]

I have an issue I need input on.

Knowing I was a daycare provider before and knowing I am trying to get it going again.... I am a mandated reporter.

Enter into picture that a little girl down the street lives with mom and grandparents and I have caught her lying before. Also she has little supervision, I think often they have no clue who or where she is. I found out tonight mom is PG again. She tells me dad has a girlfriend, and she doesn't like girl. But girl tells me "my dad kicked me in my chest". I ask her when and she has no real answer. I ask her if she told mom and she says "yes but she doesn't care".

Do I report this??? I feel it is my job to report, not my job to investigate but I also feel like she is likely lying and it is going to be known where it comes from and could be bad for my business. I did tell girl to tell teacher and principal.

What would you do????

ETA: I have reported on a situation before, and they told me if I had no proof I must be lying or not really know what was going on. In Kansas it was different, they checked out every report, in Ohio, I guess you need proof??? I just don't know what I should do.

I would call. Tell them exactly what the girl said "he kicked me in chest" "I told my mom and she didn't care" and leave it at all.

[hope]

When you are in the moment you are unsure and think it's iffy. But you thought it was something enough to ask here. I have learned (through the wise people here on this forum) to report whenever we think there might be something no matter how small a chance. Heaven forbid she is telling the truth and you ignored it.

[daycare]

I had this happen with one of my daughters friends who was a known "girl that cried wolf" I didn't let that stop me and I still reported it anyways.

No one ever knew that I reported it, they did come out and investigate, but nothing was found. Then 3 months later this same girl told me that her unlce touched her. I did not believe her at first and reported it again.

The bad part is that I did not get any further information of what the uncle did was true or not. Stinks that they won't tell you anything. BUT I don't regret calling it in.

It reminded me of that fable the boy who cried wolf, so I called it in anyways.

If this were me, I would just call it in and let CPS do the rest. You have every right to remain anonymous for your own safety.

[AmyKidsCo]

ITA - report and let CPS deal with it.

[KatiesCorner]

Honestly, the little supervision part is enough to call for me. It may not do any good, but it's worth a shot. If CPS had looked into Jenise Wright's lack of supervision, she may not have been murdered. And the only people who think of your business negatively because you report possible neglect, are not clients you want.

[Thriftylady]

Thanks you all, I am going to walk down the block tomorrow and the the address and make call. I am not a judge of the situation, but I guess that means that I can't say either way.

[Margarete]

Do you watch her, or just see her in the neighborhood? In California we are only 'mandated reporters' of the children in our charge, not everyone we come in contact with. If you suspect abuse it's always good to call regardless of the mandate, but the idea is you have more reason to have intimate knowledge of a child's situation in your care.

[Thriftylady]

No, she is not my "charge". I really feel like nobody "watches" her. I guess that is why I pay her special attention. She really jerks my heartstrings.

[Blackcat31]

Your job is to just report.

Their (CPS) job is to figure out if it's a situation that warrants intervention.

I'd call and report and leave it at that.

Sometimes it IS that one call that is the spark that sets the fire to getting them to investigate/follow up.