Post # 1
Member
929 posts
Busy bee
I know these people. I’m related to them. They choose not to work and live off social services they have 4 kids under 5 (and are trying for another one). The father was only listed on the last ones birth certificate. The mother didn’t want to list him as the father on the other birth certificates because she was afraid it would affect their “income”. They live in a one bedroom filthy apartment above her parents house. The baby collects dust bunnies on his onesie when he crawls it’s so nasty in there. I know for a fact the father smokes pot in the home with the children. He doesn’t deny this and you can clearly smell it. One of the children has severe autism and the father beats him if he doesn’t listen; which is often because… autism. I’ve seen the father spank him over not coming when he was called.
They dont care about these children. They get sick of dealing with them and drop them off downstairs at the mothers parents house for the majority of the day. The parents have a mentally disturbed child (their granddaughter, 13 years old i believe) living with them. There is constant screaming and physical fighting going on. The police have been called numerous times to calm the situation with the granddaughter. When the police come over the parents take their kids back upstairs to their apartment so i’m not even sure the police know there is any other children living there.
It’s not a good environment for those kids. We’ve been estranged for about 6 months now due to the fact that i told the father to stop spanking his son because he wouldn’t stop plucking blades of grass. We’re not talking a little swat on the butt either i’m talking all our hitting him. I’ve never PERSONALLY seen them hit the other children but after the spanking incident i witnessed the father had no problem letting us (a group of family members) know that his kids listen so well because he does what it takes to make them listen. Funny thing is they do not listen. The 1 girl they have is growing increasingly violent. She hits all the time not surprisingly.
My question is should i call CPS over the horrible conditions in the home? A filthy 1 bedroom apartment for 2 adults and 4 children, pot smoking in the home with the children, a violent 13 year old living downstairs where the children are most of the day. I think the only thing CPS would be able to visably SEE is that the apartment is disgusting and it’s 1 room for all those people. The father won’t admit to the fact that he smokes pot in the house to a CPS worker though. But I’m positive he or she would smell it. So should i call? Would you call? Is this grounds for calling? Does CPS tell them who called to report them?
Post # 2
Member
6876 posts
Busy Beekeeper
daniellemc : I only needed to read the first paragraph to see that ABSOLUTELY you need to call CPS. Beating an autistic child? Beating any child is horrible but doing it to an autistic one pretty much guarantees they will be a behavioral mess forever if not intervened with. The child needs to be getting support services in any case and I bet they aren’t or a therapist would have already called the family in as it would be legally required. Do what’s right for those children and do it now. How sad.
Post # 3
Member
3261 posts
Sugar bee
Yes, you should call. Today.
Post # 5
Member
634 posts
Busy bee
daniellemc : Yes, call right now. The children deserve to be in a loving, safe environment where they can thrive.
Post # 7
Member
160 posts
Blushing bee
Definitely – no children should be subjected to those conditions.
Post # 8
Member
10491 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
Yes. This is not even a question.
Post # 9
Member
739 posts
Busy bee
So the situation was so bad that you’ve had no contact with them for 6 months and you haven’t done a thing to help those children?
Post # 10
Member
1999 posts
Buzzing bee
Definitely call. They will ask you several questions like have you witnessed anything, why you’re reporting, what you think should be done, etc. I’m a mandated reported because I work in corrections. It will be absolutely confidential so don’t worry about them retaliating or knowing it was you. CPS will do the report though and ask you for as much information as you can provide. Then they will send someone to the house to investiagte and interview the children separate from the parents and other siblings if they feel there is a case.
Post # 11
Member
911 posts
Busy bee
daniellemc : The answer is yes, you should but – why now? You haven’t been in touch for 6 months, why have you chosen just right now to do the right thing for these children?
Post # 12
Member
1202 posts
Bumble bee
I would call. I agree with previous posters. I didn’t even read past the second paragraph because it was all just too much for me. 🙁
Post # 13
Member
2591 posts
Sugar bee
- Wedding: April 2017 - Valleybrook Country Club
daniellemc : Yes. Call. The sooner the better. The children will continue to suffer these conditions which will cause issues for the rest of their lives. They will ask how you know about these conditions or how you’re relatedm but you can make your name anonymous
Post # 14
Member
47427 posts
Honey Beekeeper
We all have a responsibility to report any situation where we are concerned about the well being of a child. Some of us, in certain professions, also have a legal responsibility.
Of course you should report. The staff can open a file, do an an investigation,and get these children the help they need. That could be in the form of ongoing support for the parents. They don’t always apprehend the children.
Post # 15
Member
495 posts
Helper bee
- Wedding: August 2017 - Orange County, CA
Yes, call! the reports are anonymous, and actually it takes several visits for CPS tro actually do anything. It could be months before those children get help. Call today.
