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Hi all, I'm a newbie with a very pressing question. I'm hoping for advice.
I recognize that we are mandated reporters of suspected child abuse or neglect, but as a provider where do you draw the line on what you report and what you just chalk up to not great choices by the parents?
I currently have two scenarios that are driving me crazy trying to decide what to do:
Scenario 1: child is 9 mos old and she and all her belongings constantly smell overwhelmingly skunk-ish. My teenage son has informed me this is "pot". I have talked the parents and asked them to wash the child's belongings and they have but the child still comes with this overwhelming odor each day. Other than the smell the child appears very well loved and cared for. She never appears "drugged" or anything of that sort.
Scenario 2: parent has two children in my care under two years of age. She definitely has her hands full and frequently allows her children to control her for lack of a better explanation. In the last couple months she has brought her infant daughter with dangerous items such as paperwork and pearl necklaces in her carseat. Her toddler son has also arrived to care on a handful of occasions hugging blankets that stink of urine which she freely admits he peed on (he is aprox 22 mos and not yet potty training but she allows him to sleep completely naked so he pees frequently). Her answer to why he has the blankets or she has dangerous items is: "they cry if i take them away". I have reminded her on several occasions that she is the parent but these situations continue to occur. The toddler also arrived with a series of cuts on his bottom because he was allowed to sit on a razor in the tub while his older sibling (approx 12 y/0) bathed him, apparently without his mother's knowledge.
I want to know these children are in safe and healthy environments. And obviously I'm not looking to destroy families. Are these situations reportable or just irritating? Where do you as a provider draw the line?
I recognize that we are mandated reporters of suspected child abuse or neglect, but as a provider where do you draw the line on what you report and what you just chalk up to not great choices by the parents?
I currently have two scenarios that are driving me crazy trying to decide what to do:
Scenario 1: child is 9 mos old and she and all her belongings constantly smell overwhelmingly skunk-ish. My teenage son has informed me this is "pot". I have talked the parents and asked them to wash the child's belongings and they have but the child still comes with this overwhelming odor each day. Other than the smell the child appears very well loved and cared for. She never appears "drugged" or anything of that sort.
Scenario 2: parent has two children in my care under two years of age. She definitely has her hands full and frequently allows her children to control her for lack of a better explanation. In the last couple months she has brought her infant daughter with dangerous items such as paperwork and pearl necklaces in her carseat. Her toddler son has also arrived to care on a handful of occasions hugging blankets that stink of urine which she freely admits he peed on (he is aprox 22 mos and not yet potty training but she allows him to sleep completely naked so he pees frequently). Her answer to why he has the blankets or she has dangerous items is: "they cry if i take them away". I have reminded her on several occasions that she is the parent but these situations continue to occur. The toddler also arrived with a series of cuts on his bottom because he was allowed to sit on a razor in the tub while his older sibling (approx 12 y/0) bathed him, apparently without his mother's knowledge.
I want to know these children are in safe and healthy environments. And obviously I'm not looking to destroy families. Are these situations reportable or just irritating? Where do you as a provider draw the line?
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