Does anyone know about child protective services?

mermer82 · February 2010

I know it is different in each state, but if you report someone for neglect, do you have to let them know who you are or can you remain anonymous?

I just found out that my BIL and his wife have had multiple instances where they don't get up with the kids (4 and 20 months) in the morning because they're hungover and the 4 year old gets up and entertains himself by trashing the house, and tries to entertain the baby by giving her things in her crib, and they found a steak knife in her crib, and the other night her mom was at the bar and dad was passed out drunk or on pills on the couch and the baby got into the cabinet and DRANK CLEANER.

redhotchili83 · February 2010

In IL, you can make an anonymous tip. They prefer to have your information for follow ups and things, but they wont turn away information just because you dont want to leave your name.

Thats terrible!!! If your state makes you give a name, just make something up so you can still report it! Poor babies.

mariamaria · February 2010

I don't have any advice, but I just had to say this is horrible and makes me SO sad! I'm sorry you're family has to deal with this and worry about your nieces/nephews. Some people really shouldn't be allowed to procreate!

aegrimm · February 2010

Oh wow. Indifferent

I'm not sure about the anonymous reporting but God bless those kids. I hope everything works out for them!

CharlaineS · February 2010

Are you asking this because you will only report them if you can remain anonymous? If so, you are CRAZY imo. Report them either way. These childrens saftey should be your main concern. Imagine if you said nothing and something horrible happened. You wouldn't want that on you conscience.

dionnemd10 · February 2010

you can remain annonymous. they may or may not investigate this though-really depends on the state and what the case load is etc. i know that sucks, but that may be all they do. often the abuse/neglect has to be pretty extreme anymore for things to be done-again sucks, but there aren't the funds to do what all needs to be done. i use to do to case management and was a mandated reporter for years and unfortunately many things don't go any farther than paperwork and filing of the report.

you could call and give the info but you will never know if it is investigated or not. unless your bil etc tells about it.

i didn't get up with my 3 year old when i was pg-i would turn on cartoons and go back to bed. and honestly there are probably a few parents out there that don't get up with their children when hungover. is it right-no, is it necessarily neglect-gray area.

good luck.

JenniferJaneC · February 2010

Don't wait. Call now. They'll tell you about anonymity but from what you are describing I don't think it matters if you stay anonymous or not. If things are that bad something needs to be done before those kids are hurt.

sunflowergrl · February 2010

In NY and CT you can do it without leaving a name. Even if you do leave one for a follow up, they are not allowed to and do not give out who reported it. I'm so sorry your in this situation. GL to y ou, and hugs to your niece/nephew.

mermer82 · February 2010

CharlaineS:
Are you asking this because you will only report them if you can remain anonymous? If so, you are CRAZY imo. Report them either way. These childrens saftey should be your main concern. Imagine if you said nothing and something horrible happened. You wouldn't want that on you conscience.

My husbands brothers are convicted criminals. They know where me and my baby live, on top of the fact that they already have not liked me for 4 years. I am concerned about my niece and nephew, but I am also seriously concerned about the safety of my own family if I report them.

redhotchili83 · February 2010

SEriously, call and say your name is Bo Jangles if they make you leave one. But PLEASE call NOW!

ehicks · February 2010

It really doesn't hurt to at least call and ask someone what to do. Even call the hospital and ask them who the best would be to call.?

This is insane!

We had friends (they aren't our friends anymore) who used to leave and go drinking and leave the kids in the house (3 and 1) and drop off a monitor to the neighbors! Our final straw was when the dad got really drunk and told his wife he was coming to our house. It was after he already beat her up and crashed his car! We had to lock all our doors and turn off the lights. We slept with DD in our bed. I cried the whole night. Thankfully we called a cop friend and he tracked him down.

I called our Pedi and asked for a number to call and report them. I did not leave my name because I was so scared of him. They went to their house and took the kids to his parents house. The dad is in a psych ward and the mom is with her parents.?

So I understand being scared. I agree either way please report it. But you certainly can do it without giving your name, just explain that you are scared for your childrens safety.?

Anyway... try googling to find a number or as I said, call your nearest hospital and ask for advice. They would have all emergency numbers.?

Kingston54 · February 2010

All states are different. I think they will only give your name if needed for court or something. At this point I really wouldn't care if they knew you called. It's what's best for those kids.

Temp785382312506150 · February 2010

Oh wow, how incredibly sad. I am so sorry you're put in this situation and my heart is breaking for those poor children.

CharlaineS · February 2010

mermer82:

My husbands brothers are convicted criminals. They know where me and my baby live, on top of the fact that they already have not liked me for 4 years. I am concerned about my niece and nephew, but I am also seriously concerned about the safety of my own family if I report them.

That sux you are in that situation, but you seriously need to call. If they ask you name tell them you refuse because you fear for your family's safety. Please call

Cynthia7461 · February 2010

I worked for CPS in GA. Listen you can call and make an anonymous tip, however; your family still might blame you. In GA, by law, they can not tell the name of the source, however; the person sometimes will go around blaming people until someone caves. YOU NEED TO CALL THIS IN NOW! If your family blames you DENY IT. They do not really know who called it in and are trying to figure it out.

Now that being said. Make sure you tell the office about the pills you think you brother-in-law might have taken. In Georgia they will make him take a drug test. Also make sure you give specifics details, if you can. (ie like the name of the bar they were at) If they drink the house mention the trash can. I always checked the trash can for bottles when I went out to a home

In Georgia a case like this would have a immediate 24 response time based on the age of the children (which means they must see the children within 24hours if not sooner, my guess would be that a worker would go out ASAP, I know I would have). The worker will go out to the interview the children and the family. More then likely a safety plan will be put into place or the children will be placed outside of the home with a friend or family memeber (parents get to chose) (This is what would happen in Georgia)

Keep in mind that you Must report this and if your family asks if you did just DENY it. In my CPS investigator experience, when the family found out who the reporter was it was due to the fact that the family member guessed asked the reporter and the reporter immediatley got upset that DFCS told them the reporter name. If the reporter had denied making the call his/her identity would have never been revealed.

If you have any other questions just let me know

jwhokie · February 2010

Oh my! I am sooo sorry you have to deal with this. If it were me I would already be on the phone. I agree with ehicks that you could just tell them that you aren't comfortable leaving your name for your own safety and the safety of your family. If I knew something like that I would not be able to let that go unnoticed. Please do call and get those poor kids the help they deserve.

I hope it all works out for you and we're all here for you if you need us. Let us know how things go.

melknee78 · February 2010

Cynthia7461:
I worked for CPS in GA. Listen you can call and make an anonymous tip, however; your family still might blame you. In GA, by law, they can not tell the name of the source, however; the person sometimes will go around blaming people until someone caves. YOU NEED TO CALL THIS IN NOW! If your family blames you DENY IT. They do not really know who called it in and are trying to figure it out.
Now that being said. Make sure you tell the office about the pills you think you brother-in-law might have taken. In Georgia they will make him take a drug test. Also make sure you give specifics details, if you can. (ie like the name of the bar they were at) If they drink the house mention the trash can. I always checked the trash can for bottles when I went out to a home
In Georgia a case like this would have a immediate 24 response time based on the age of the children (which means they must see the children within 24hours if not sooner, my guess would be that a worker would go out ASAP, I know I would have). The worker will go out to the interview the children and the family. More then likely a safety plan will be put into place or the children will be placed outside of the home with a friend or family memeber (parents get to chose) (This is what would happen in Georgia)
Keep in mind that you Must report this and if your family asks if you did just DENY it. In my CPS investigator experience, when the family found out who the reporter was it was due to the fact that the family member guessed asked the reporter and the reporter immediatley got upset that DFCS told them the reporter name. If the reporter had denied making the call his/her identity would have never been revealed.
If you have any other questions just let me know

I work for CPS in TX and everything said above is true. I am not sure about other states but in TX everyone who knows of abuse or neglect is a mandated reporter (not just professionals). Like PP said, your information is not given to the family but all families "guess" at who made the report and will likely confront that person and say they were told by the investigator, JUST DENY IT!!! Act ignorant and do not tell anyone in the family you made the report. Good luck.

hgunter · February 2010

In NC you can make an anonymous report. Please, please, please call and report this.

Jen&Louie · February 2010

In NY the child abuse hotline is anonymous (unless you are calling as a function of your job as a mandated reporter). But, FFS, a steak knife in the crib???? What is wrong with these people? Under those circumstances I personally wouldn't care if they found out who placed the call or not. That baby deserves to be safe and that is not it.

userdeleted · February 2010

dionnemd10:
i didn't get up with my 3 year old when i was pg-i would turn on cartoons and go back to bed. and honestly there are probably a few parents out there that don't get up with their children when hungover. is it right-no, is it necessarily neglect-gray area.

good luck.

Did you read the whole post? The baby drank cleaning fluid while its caregiver was passed out under the influence. Gray area? Really?

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Does anyone know about child protective services?

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