Social Services

As a former foster mother, I have experience with the system. Someone said that unless the kids are injured to the point of hospitalization, there is little to be done. To some extent that is true. I would suggest not calling just once, but to call 1-800-4ACHILD several times, maybe a day or two apart, giving more info each time. One call about the older child not eating for days, another about him being thrown into the wall, another about drugs, another about him being a babysitter. You can remain anonymous. The more calls they get, the more likely there will be a very serious response. Over one call, they are supposed to go to the house and talk to the kids separate from the parents, but if he won't tell them, they go on their merry way. Another call will ensure another visit, and another, etc. They will ask you times of occurrences, if you have personally seen any of this or if the child told you this directly, or if you were in the room when he did, so be prepared. I have made reports to this hotline and no one found out it was me. In fact, in one case, I told the mother I did it, and she didn't beleive me!!

Please call ASAP. You would feel so guilty if anything happened to those kids.

K.

if you have a feeling that something is wrong call.if they take the children out of the house they will try to find a family member to take them the kids cant defend themselves so help you have to tell noone who you are or how you know

The only thing I know is that when I went through it my husbands daughters and I had called up there and so did a few others regarding his daughters unsafe conditions they did not ask your name. I gave them the information and they took it down and they are required to go and investigate each phone call. They do keep records of each call and what is being done about it. I would call them and tell them that there is definitely a problem and once they see it maybe they can do something about it. Especially with drugs being involved. But one thing the social services did tell me is that if they children are NOT severaly injured where they have a broken limb or require medical treatment nothing can be done. So another words they could be killed and then they would take action. Isnt that amazing how that system works??? But I would definitely do something about it. Good Luck

Personally, I've never delt with social services, but a family member has and you have more than enough to atleast send them to check out the living situation. It sounds to me like a troubled home. I would ask about it being anonomous first. I do know that they show up unexpectedly only if you have all the info( names, address, phone #) on hand. Hope this helps!

L. K

You have more than enough reason to call!! I dont have much experience with them, but I know a few years ago, a friend of mine over heard a co-worker talkin about hitting her kids, my friend called social services, asked to remian annoymous, & with just 'hear say' they went to take a look. & it never got back to her. Social Services does NOT mess around!!
Also, tell them that your scared to say your name because of this man, they might make it seem to the family that it was a neighbor, or someone who saw them out.
Please call though, as soon as possible. Would you rather a trashy family be mad at you, or a child or infant being seriously hurt!?
GOOD LUCK!!!

Is it possible to talk to the parents and offer to take the kids on the weekends or something? The kids will never be removed unless they are in immediate physical danger. For some reason neglect is not considered physical danger. So if you really want to help, you'll probably have to do it yourself. Maybe, once in a while, buy groceries for the house. Maybe random drop-ins. Who knows, maybe one visit from child welfare will get them to straighten out - thinking someone is watching them. The situation sucks. The system sucks. The only thing you can do is bring a little joy to the children's lives as they struggle through it.

Since we have custody of our two grandchildren I have experience with social services. You have enough to call and ask them to do an intake. You do not have to give your name! But tell them everything you know including the 5 yr old caring for the baby.All you have to do is say there is drug use going on in the home nad they will investigate. However, You need to make the call before something happens to those kids.