drunk parent

[Unregistered]

This is rare but happens sometimes were parents are drunk and just terrible and should not be picking kids up I know u cant denie them to pick up there kid but dang for safety , I try to offer overnight in these situations, what do u do has anyone else dealt with this, my parents are really good but it does happen, uasally with new parents,

[spedmommy4]

If you are licensed, you are a mandated reporter. If an intoxicated parent transported the child in a vehicle, I would call the local police and give them the information. (address of parent, direction they headed, and license plate) In most states, you can usually report to the police or child protective services. In that situation, it makes better sense to report to the police. They can pull over the parent, address the safety issue, and get them off the road, if you report quickly enough.

[Josiegirl]

Drunk? As in slurring, can't walk straight drunk? Or has the smell of beer on their breath had 1 beer type of thing? If they're noticeably drunk, you can warn them if they choose to leave with their child you will be calling the cops as soon as they walk out the door.
I have to admit I've let a parent leave before, they acted totally fine, coherent, etc. and I probably shouldn't have. :confused: I confronted her the next day about it, course she denied it, saying it was her medicine. No, dcm, I smelled beer on your breath. She never did it again.

[bklsmum]

I cover this in my handbook and flat out say that if they or their pick up person shows up intoxicated and insists on leaving with the child the police will be contacted immediately. I have never had an issue with it but better safe than sorry.

[DaveA]

From my handbook:

Any person picking up your child in an impaired condition will be encouraged to find alternate transportation. I cannot legally withhold a child from a guardian, but if I feel a child is in jeopardy, I will not hesitate to contact the police.

Lilke PP said, you're a mandated reporter. If they do it you pretty much have to call.

One center I worked at had this happen. I called security (center was attached to an office building) on DCD a couple of times and DCD & child had to wait for DCM to come drive them home. If he had tried to get into his car security would have called cops. My director was hacked at me for causing her a "headache" I reminded her she had a staff member that had lost a fiancé and child to a drunk driver and a bigger headache would be newspaper headline of "Daycare teacher beats crap out of parent who tried to drive away drunk with child." Reason #599 I don't work there anymore.

[LindseyA]

Call someone from their contacts list, call a cab, warn the parent that you can & will call the police if they refuse any of these options and try to leave with the child.

[Blackcat31]

From my handbook:

Any person picking up your child in an impaired condition will be encouraged to find alternate transportation. I cannot legally withhold a child from a guardian, but if I feel a child is in jeopardy, I will not hesitate to contact the police.

Lilke PP said, you're a mandated reporter. If they do it you pretty much have to call.

Pretty much word for word what my handbook says as well. ^^

Drunk? As in slurring, can't walk straight drunk? Or has the smell of beer on their breath had 1 beer type of thing? If they're noticeably drunk, you can warn them if they choose to leave with their child you will be calling the cops as soon as they walk out the door.
I have to admit I've let a parent leave before, they acted totally fine, coherent, etc. and I probably shouldn't have. :confused: I confronted her the next day about it, course she denied it, saying it was her medicine. No, dcm, I smelled beer on your breath. She never did it again.

I would never confront someone I thought was drinking. A lot of drunk people get pretty testy and I would want to avoid confrontation at all costs if I had other children present. Both for their safety and mine.

My state mandates that I offer an alternate travel solution (calling cab or friend or alternate pick up person) but I can not deny a parent access to their child but the second they walk out my door, I will call 911 and report them.

I am also not trained to know if a person is impaired. They may have left just left the dentist or taken medication and have a reaction, they could be suffering low blood sugar or a host of other things that I am not qualified to detect so my ONLY option is to call 911 if I feel the parent is in no condition to drive with their child.

[Unregistered]

drunk parent

Ok thanks ive only had this kid a few days so mom definitely took advantage of having a sitter she just moved here from out ofstate and has no else for pick-up.there was some else in the car who decided to drive thank goodness she could barely walk running in to the door barely new who I was, smell was really bad.im not licenced .

[Unregistered]

drunk parent

Will definitely call police if no one is in car next time if happens again, thanks