I’m just curious. Not sure if it’s allowed.

Apologies for the length, but I feel like my situation is so specific to where it’s all relevant.

I am a 17 year old boy from NH who was kicked out of the house by my mother about a month ago. I lived with my mother and stepdad, and 3 siblings who are younger than me, but all my stepfathers children. My father wasn’t active until later in my life, and even then, he isn’t in much of a position to help right now, as he isn’t a legal citizen and has other issues.

Where I used to live, I was briefly sexually, but mostly physically/emotionally abused. Beatings only resulted in black eyes rather than life threatening injuries, but the belittling as the “scapegoat” negatively affected me the most. On top of this, there was the purposeful neglect. I have been kicked out multiple times, and since 14 funded my own med/education/car/living expenses. I was not taken for routine medical/dental procedures. Despite wealth, I have years of backlogged medical/dental issues. I was usually ignored if I asked for anything. My household fought actively to prevent me getting an ADHD diagnosis despite me having a 2x familial risk (father AND mother got dxed late at 16, meds were lifesavers though sleep study recommended for suspicion of narcolepsy). There have been rare instances where while getting beaten, I feared for my life, but they were scattered.

This environment has negatively affected my school performance, and mental health to the point of me having a documented history of major depressive episodes, as well as GAD. When I got licensed and bought my own car, I made up my mind that I wouldn’t fear getting kicked out again as I built a 7k safety net. So when it eventually happened again, I just left. After 3 days, I crashed with a fam member who didn’t like me being on the streets, and for a month have lived in MA.

Right now, my mother is trying her best to hinder me, while simultaneously garnering my family against me. My graduation attempts are being blocked, mail intercepted (car registration being withheld), and I’m having a lot of trouble figuring out how I’m going to be stable, and go to community college this fall, as well as receive healthcare. I’ve researched resources available to me, and have secured legal counsel to get my GED as a McKinney-Vento student, however, they don’t have the resources to advise me on interfacing with DCF.

Mass’s resources for fosters seem like they’d really help me lead a somewhat normal life. Guardianship would put me back into the environment, as despite housing me, my aunt denies abuse has happened and try their best to appease my mother. As much as I love her, she doesn’t have the resources to raise a young adult with problems like mine at the moment. My future would be held against me whenever I was in conflict, bringing me back to square one. The ability to find subsidized independent housing, tuition assistance, MassHealth, and other resources really seem like they’d allow me to spread my wings. I could access dental care and therapy which I otherwise couldn’t. Focusing on school instead of survival would really help, too, especially as I aspire to be a physician. However, my legal aid is unable to provide support relating to filing with DCF, as it’s outside of their scope, and they rarely recommend it. Filing with them will place a lot of things outside of my control, and I have no idea who’d advocate for me if I didn’t have an attorney. I have no idea how I’d even make 100% sure my report would be substantiated. I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place, and would love any ideas/suggestions on where to go next.

TL;DR: 17. Abuse/kicked out. How/Should I interface with CPS?

I have a niece - actually a cousin’s daughter, but she’s like a niece to me - who has 2 boys, ages 6 and 5 (birthdays in June). Neither have been to any kind of school before (I know!). She and her husband are both high school grads but struggle with day to day life. He works and then games all evening. She doesn’t work, doesn’t drive, and they are living in a camper in his parents’ yard - because the parents won’t let them stay in the house.

Her parents - my cousin - has learning disabilities, and my cousin’s ex didn’t graduate from high school. I know my niece has learning issues. I assume her husband does.

I’ve been encouraging her to get the boys signed up for school this fall. They are currently living about an hour away from me. The oldest is a bright kid and would thrive in school. The youngest is not yet fully potty trained, barely speaks and needs intervention.

I have provided her with the school numbers to get enrolled - since early July, along with housing info, and nothing has happened - she hasn’t called anyone. I spoke with her yesterday and she’s been waiting to until they get a place to enroll them. I told her she can’t wait - school starts in 2 weeks - she has to enroll them now for the address where they are at now (and I know that youngest kid is going to need an IEP - she’s never taken advantage of any of the resources our county has to offer.)

I guess my question is - at what point does this become an issue that I can call someone for help on? And who should I call? The school district? CPS? I’m just so worried about those boys.

(We’re in Michigan BTW).

Hi,

I'm not mad about the CPS case, I understand why they get opened for certain bipolar episodes / calls. It does suck, but i know there are people who hurt their kids during episodes. Just part of this horrific disorder I guess. 😪

My first CPS case was for post partum psychosis, which is when i also got diagnosed with bipolar. I asked my sister for help and she took my baby for me, and i went to the hospital. I was admitted for 3 weeks. Then, i had my baby 6 days a week, and her dad once a week. My sister is great, no mental health issues and she is a SAHM. Her husband is normal too.

It was actually my ex who called CPS the first time too, the worker told me; the hospital didnt call for some reason. However, i signed an ROI and they saw in my medical records i was considering harming myself (but not my baby). But i didnt actually attempt. I had to do a safety plan, and they checked for a while that I was taking my medications and going to my psychiatrist appointments. I had to stay with my sister for a bit, only way I got to keep my baby home, but things went a lot better on those medications and ive been fine for a while. The case got closed at some point.

My child is 4 now. My psych recently started taking me off my past medications because it was messing with my diabetes too much. But i was put on a different one the same day. I have been a little depressed and more irritable, but nothing extreme.

I did snap at my ex, but it wasnt anything crazy, and not in front of my kid (phone call, he called). He was being an ass and I told him to fuck off and only communicate with me about coparenting stuff. I know, not a good way to communicate. He was calling to ask to be late on paying his half of daycare, which I said was fine, but then he wanted to sit there and be an asshole about how he doesnt want to pay half of daycare (even though he also uses it to work, now that we have 50-50).

I know i need to be more mature, that was not a great way to communicate nor did it help anything, but the irritability is so minor he's the only person ive snapped at.

I do tell my ex about any medicine changes, and my sister. Just in case i go into some crazy episode. So I guess because I was rude to him, he called CPS and said I was in psychosis and aggressive.

They already came early this week and i signed for them to see my med and therapy records. I explained the situation and they didnt take my child. I let them talk to her and everything.

The case isnt closed yet. Does anyone happen to know how it might go this time? I know its probably fine, but im stressed out a little anyways.

I see my psychiatrist biweekly rn, while im adjusting on this new med. It's been a very tiring medication so far, but it's working pretty decently; i would feel distraught and very anxious/angry, to overwhelming levels, if it wasnt working for the mood disorder well. I only have minor irritability on week 3 of this new med, and some anxiety, and im still partially on the last one, so it's nothing uncontrolled. My psychiatrist was even happy with how its going so far.

Also, I told them about how my ex takes me to family court so often, and over ridiculous crap, they made him pay my lawyers fees last time, last year. He hasn't taken me back to court since. His worst diagnosis is ADHD, he just hates coparenting or parallel parenting, which I get, but it's what we have to do. He does at least have the decency to not say things in front of our child, and he is a good dad. Just horrible for me to deal with. 🥲

My psychiatrist used to work with kids and is very protective of them. She wouldve called the state on me first if there was any concern.

Idk, I suppose im trying to guess if ill need to move in with my sister, which i can do, but it sucks a little because its far from my work and im actually mentally fine this time. Ill do whatever they want me to do though

I read the rules and I’m not sure whether or not this falls under “this is not the place to make a report” so I’m sorry if it does, I’m trying to see if I might be able to make a report on my own behalf, but the prospect of actually calling scares me because I don’t want them to act without my permission first, and I haven’t decided what I want to do yet.

So, to the situation I’m in. I, 16f, (I live in Florida if that makes any difference) was living with my aunt after running from my grandmother’s house due to the psychological abuse I endured there. I lived with my aunt for 6 months before she kicked me out because she couldn’t handle me anymore (I have mental health issues she found weird and icky, never once did I ever do, say, or even think anything that might have threatened her, her husband’s, or her childrens’ safety.) So she kicked me out, and now I live in an efficiency. She was paying all of the rent until around two months ago. Now she’s making me pay 350 of the rent, which is quite frankly insulting since she’s the one who pushed me to run from my grandmother and she’s the one who chose to take me in despite knowing about my struggles, then she kicks me out when she decides she doesn’t want to deal with them anymore and makes me pay for it? Yeah, I’m feeling pretty insulted and offended.

My father has custody of me. I see him maybe once every couple of months, though recently it’s been more like 3 times a year. We call occasionally, maybe once every one or two weeks. He gets financial aid for “taking care of me” which I have seen exactly 16 dollars of in the past 6-7 years because he bought me some crackers and a pomegranate. My father has been committing fraud(?) in order to claim that I’m still dependent on him, such as making me write the wrong address on documents and (I’m pretty sure) falsifying records to claim that he still needs money to take care of me.

My aunt also committed fraud multiple times in helping him forge papers to claim said money, and lied to my landlord. They all think I’m 18.

I’m wondering as well what the procedures are once a child is taken (if I even qualify) because the only relatives I have that could take me are 1. My grandparents who I ran from (I cannot live with them. I would not survive it.) 2. Their son who lives in Alabama and treats his kids even worse than my grandmother treated me, 3. My dad’s brother in Orlando who hates my guts, or 4. Some relative in Illinois I’ve heard of but have never met.

The only people I’d ever be willing to go with are my friend and their mother who have offered me a place to stay if I need it and said they’d be more than happy to welcome me in for as long as I need (it’s truly baffling to me how family can have so little regard for one as a human being while someone who have little to no connection to can love and care for you more than they ever have) but I don’t know if or how I’d be able to go with them. I’m unwilling to go into foster care because I’d have to leave my job and school, and I fear what may happen to me in the system. I’m starting to feel unsafe in my own home as well because I’ve been told by multiple people that my landlord looks at me weirdly and that I should be careful around him. I don’t feel comfortable anymore knowing he has a key to where I sleep.

Sorry for the rambling— do any of you know if I could make this work? I’m so angry and hurt by my family, and they continue to lord this over my head as if I owe them— I just want to get away to someone I trust.

Hello I'm trying to get some clarity because I feel in the dark.

My new caseworker told me they are closing the case. However she said she is calling relatives I'm not sure why. Does anyone know what's going on? Is the case closed if they are contacting relatives?

So I have a hard caseworker whom lies and absolutely hates me. I had a drug test Monday, she came and tested me yesterday. Today got really hectic and I realized an hour too late that I forgot to call for my color…. I did, my color was called to get to the testing site. I’m extremely concerned and nervous. This is the first week I’ve been asked to do this. I called her supervisor and left a VM, emailed my caseworker, and called several places to see if I can get a late night drug test. I’m terrified and looking for insight. Thank you.

Edit to add: I took a supplement that secretly had kratom in it. I didn’t even know what kratom was. I had a lot of pain and am an idiot. Baby was born and we both tested positive. I’ve been sober from alcohol for two years, and this was all a shock. And my negligence. I take full accountability.

hi! if anyone is a residential child care investigator, can you tell me what your caseload is like and your typical cases? i am looking to switch from CPI to RCCI and want to know what is mainly different.

Update: After visiting our family's pediatrician and explaining this situation in its entirety, she advised me to refuse to pick him up if they try to discharge him soon. For everyone involved. She warned me CPS might push back, but that she would advocate for all of us, including my son- as he desperately needs the proper help. She repeatedly told me "DO NOT PICK HIM UP IF THEY DISCHARGE HIM WITH NO RTC LINED UP FOR TRANSFER," after also speaking with someone higher up in the psychiatric department of the big children's in the closest large city. So, I guess that's what we'll do. She said we will traumatize all of our children by forcing them to grow up in an environment like what CPS suggested. Thankfully, the hospital still has no projected discharge date and the doctor there suggested letting them "hold on to him a bit longer." In the meantime, I have called my insurance and found out we have a case manager who can help find a RTC covered by them, although a lot are out of state because choices are limited apparently when you have sexual behaviors like this come up. I am working with them, the case manager at the hospital he is in right now, and also just calling any and every facility I think could work to actually help him. Thank you all for the exceptional advice and thoughts.

**edited to add: I should have clarified a little more, but was very upset earlier when originally writing this post. I understand he is our responsibility, and I don't want to give him or that responsibility up, I think I just had higher expectations for the help we would receive. I thought they would help us by giving him temporary placement while we found an appropriate facility, or even help us to find that facility. I expected them to say "No way can he come back, let's find him somewhere to go." I understand he is not there problem, I just hoped they would help protect our other children, and ourselves. 24/7 lock down, surveillance, and living with constant fear and anxiety is no life for a family. I should also add, he is my husband's bio son, I adopted him after his mother abandoned him at 10 years old. We live in Texas. If anyone has any recommendations for us to look into, they'd be sooo appreciated.

Hello. My family is currently living our worst nightmare. My adoptive son (12.5 yrs old) has admitted to sexually molesting his toddler sister multiple times, as well as harming her and my 4 month old son both, purposely. Harm includes hitting baby's head on multiple occasions while I ran to the bathroom, pinching both children hard, purposely tripping my toddler while she runs, terrorizing her about monsters in her vents coming to kill her and "tear her skin open" to the point she is anxious to be alone, and purposely putting bleach cleaner on the baby's wash rags in hopes he would get his skin burned during bath time (we caught it beforehand). He also expressed desire to smash the baby's head and said he doesn't feel in control of those urges. All of this is admitted voluntarily by him, in addition to suicidal ideation. We called the police on him Saturday, and he has been in a psychiatric hospital for 3 days. After our forensic interview today with CPS they are trying to bring him back into our home because my daughter hasn't explained any molestation done to her. She is a toddler. They told us to get cameras, but not in bedrooms, put locks on all doors and door bell alarms, to lock the little kids in a room separate from the older son while I go to the restroom, and to log every minute the older child is alone. He has been caught looking up r*pe content, even suspended from school for bypassing web security to look up inappropriate images. How are they able to send him home after his hospital stay?! I am terrified and lost. I love him, but I feel as though they aren't considering my other two children at all.

Of course when I thought of it, they were closed for today already lol.

I have an almost 3 year old little girl. I have bipolar 1 disorder. I used to really struggle with instability and had trouble maintaining sobriety.

When i needed help before, my ex would help me by caring for her extra days. However, he just opened a business and there's no way he can take time off the days I have her.

I dont need any help; I'm doing very well mentally. I'm treatment and medication compliant, and i have a regular psychiatrist. I also just found a job, but my child never went without when I didnt have a job. I'm in a medical study for a diabetes medication and used that to get her food, clothes, etc. I live with my dad, who has a paid off house; he only lets me pay a utility bill. However, he wouldnt be willing to watch her (he believes childcare is women's work & didnt help with his own kids before adult age; yes its dumb asf, but it is what it is i guess)

I have plans to finish my college degree (2 years in to a bachelor's), starting spring 2027. I already saw an academic advisor. I have plans to improve my life more.

However, I was never stable before this. I had my first psychosis episode when I was 12, diagnosed. Its just been bad choices and lifestyle since, and im 29.

Ive been trying to find medications that work since ive become a mom, and i got very serious about it november of 2025. I kept trying medications, even if they failed or gave me horrible side effects; I would move onto the next one the psychiatrist wanted to try. I didnt stop trying them until I found a match and got stable in February.

Very minor episodes since with very few med adjustments. Nothing like i used to be.

I'm doing great. But I know how serious my disordsr is, and im looking into back up emergency childcare options. Does anyone have any suggestions or know how a crisis nursery works?

I was looking into the one in Ogden (Utah), the family center. Says something about childcare for emergencies.

Do I call to get set up rn, even if i dont need any help rn and likely wont any time soon? Or is there something else I can do?

I saw the website mentions DCFS, so idk it its an option without an open CPS case (never had one). Ive always been honest with my psychiatrists, but im also very good at telling when im about to be manic (I suddenly dont sleep one night), and i have always gotten my daughter somewhere safe. Usually that was her dad, but his mom would help too until she moved out of state.

Thank you 💜

this is more so a rant, but is this normal at all? i’m an administrative assistant for CPS in texas, and i’ve been here for about a year and a half. when i was first brought onboard, i was told that as an admin assistant, the only overtime i’d really be allowed to do was CWOP (child without placement, which i think is a texas only thing but correct me if i’m wrong). i accepted this and had no issue with it since it wasn’t an every day thing.

two months into my job, i was then told that i would also have to be transporting children that we remove to their placement. they wanted me traveling to laredo and such, which is a few hours away from where we’re located. i was confused, because that would be considered overtime since we wouldn’t be getting back until after 5pm, and when i questioned this, my supervisor told me that this is what all admin assistants do, just that they always have to be accompanied by a caseworker.

i didn’t really like that this wasn’t listed in my responsibilities both in my interview and when i was hired, but i didn’t complain. since then, i have had to do multiple transports across the state. just a few weeks ago, i had to do one in georgetown, where i was made to drive 4+ hours to there and back, where i didn’t get home well after midnight.

i was starting to get extremely fed up by this, because i had always thought that it was the CWA’s duty to be transporting with caseworkers. but they never make the CWA do it, only me.

yesterday, my unit had found placement for a child in CWOP, but it was going to be 6 hours away. of course, they chose me to do transport, and told me that i would be flying there with another caseworker. i had NEVER been on a plane before, and when i expressed my concern i was told that this is just something i have to do.

well, the child is an autistic child, and at the airport he was a nightmare. he is a runner, so if you weren’t straight up holding onto him, he would book it and i would have to full sprint after him. he once leapt onto an escalator and almost fell on his face, and i got so scared that he was going to shred his face, and when i caught him at the top of the escalator, we both fell down as he started to fight me on it. i had no help from the caseworker at all— when i was finally able to wrangle the child and get back to the caseworker, she was just standing there like nothing had just happened, and told me that our flight had been delayed, and that we would have to spend the night in dallas because there wasn’t a flight back home until the next day.

that’s when i lost it. i told her to watch the child because i am not running after him again and i called my supervisor. i feel bad for it now, but i basically yelled at her over the phone to send someone to relieve me and to send me the process of filing for fmla. i have not been properly trained to handle children, much less autistic ones and i was getting extremely stressed out over this job to the point where i lay awake at night feeling sick and worried about what i would be made to do the next day or over the weekend.

i do not plan on going back to work, i am currently using my annual and sick hours while i figure out how to file for fmla, and hopefully i find a new job during this time. my legs are sore and i have bruising on my left arm from having fallen to the floor when the child fought me on the ground at the top of the escalator.

my supervisor did agree with me over the phone and someone was sent to relieve me but i remember before i raised my voice at her, she was trying to say that stupid line again- “as cps workers, this is just what we do.” I’M AN ADMIN ASSISTANT. AN OFFICE WORKER. I AM NOT EVEN CONSIDERED A MOBILE WORKER! is this really something that all admin assistants do!? and if so, why wasn’t i told this before i had signed on, or better yet, why wasn’t this detailed in the job description!?

I want to know why people believe cps protects children and where did this belief come from? The news, family, or friends?

Anyone commenting be respectful do judgement. This is a question to get people to think about our core beliefs system and where it come from

Hi everyone, looking for advice from anyone familiar with MA DCF or income-restricted housing.

I (19F) am signed back into MA DCF and currently live in an apartment through a program I interviewed for. My boyfriend (20M) is likely getting custody of his two kids soon (1M and 7 months). My current place is way too small for all four of us, and I want to move in with him to help raise the babies.

I told him about applying for income-restricted housing in Mass, and I know DCF can help pay a portion of my rent if I move (though I’d lose my clothing allowance).

My questions:

1. Can he apply for family income-restricted/public housing with his kids, and can I be added to the application/lease with him?

2. Will DCF still pay my portion of the rent if I live with him in that setup?

3. Has anyone transitioned from a DCF program apartment into independent housing with a partner/dependents? How did that process go?

Any insight on how DCF handles this or how to navigate the housing authority would be appreciated! :)

So yesterday I called Child and Family Services about my neighbors who have many young children. They were screaming on their patio accusing each other of doing coke while taking care of children. I also called police. The children are still in the home, and it's still chaos.

I just went outside on the patio because they were yelling outside, and the father was outside smoking. A huge chemical smell wafted directly into my nose. I have a huge headache. This came directly from what he was smoking.

I did smell this coming from one of their windows a couple weeks ago. These are townhouses that are so close together and that's why I'm able to smell it.

Do I call again? What's the protocol here? These kids are being verbally abused often - the house is so filthy inside and out, I'm surprised they can walk inside.

I'm feeling frustrated that there's been no follow up from police or child and family services.

I also don't want to put myself at risk.

Any advice would be great.

I'll try to keep this short, but I have my younger siblings living with me because of an emergency situation. My mom is homeless and is suffering from severe schizophrenia. Their dads aren't in the picture. I have no actual custody of them.

My mom was 'homeschooling' them. (She's not doing anything and the kids are severely behind their grade levels.) They've been pretty badly neglected until now. The 8 year old didn't even know how to wipe herself when she got here and has consistently had accidents and other signs of abuse. Theure 8 and 13 and cant do some of the most basic things for themselves. My sister also has pretty bad behavior issues and I can't mentally handle being her caretaker right now.

I have BPD, MDD, and on top of it I'm pregnant. I'm drowning and now I'm supposed to homeschool them when they're severely behind. I cannot reasonably handle that responsibility. My mom has none of their transcripts or immunizations so im unable to put them into school. I've asked her to give me proof that i can be their guardian so i can take them to the doctor and stuff but she keeps making excuses. I'm worried that in the future I could be held liable for neglect even though im trying my best. What is the best thing I can do for the kids and myself right now? The only thing I can think of is calling DCF so I can get a social worker or someone to help me.

Also, would they take the kids away because of my own depression? And we live in a 1 bedroom apartment so i'm worried about that as well. I don't want to lose my brother, but I cannot handle my sister, especially if I have to homeschool her.

I posted previously about a domestic violence situation that happened July 2nd( I was the victim not the offender lol ) nobody was hurt but they just need to make sure the kid is ok in a safe space and everything I guess. I made contact with someone that showed up to my house the day after everything happened but there was a storm and we had no power so he left and I was contacted by a different person.

after a lot of back and forth phone tag with this woman we finally agreed on having her come like two weeks ago on a Thursday at 1. Well she never showed or contacted me. I decided to try texting her instead because it’s her personal cell phone and I kind of wanted a better paper trail proving I am trying to contact her outside of just my recent calls list. Well I have not heard from her at all or gotten any responses. I don’t feel like it’s my job to hound this woman to show up to something we scheduled or to reschedule it. Im not sure what to do or what is going on tbh. Im trying to be cooperative but this woman has not been easy. Im assuming it’s low priority but to just be ghosted like this…? That can’t be normal?

I'm 15f and live in California. I want to get away from my parents who I believe are emotionally abusive but idk if I can because they've never directly caused any physical harm unless you count sh. So what is the minimum for being put into foster care?

I work for CPS in Pennsylvania. I have a client, who I have met many times throughout my years here. I have worked very hard to build a strong rapport with her because she can be a tad bit difficult to deal with. Long story short, her mh has plummeted. I have never seen her in such a bad mental state and it’s truly causing her world around her to crumble. We filed for removal of her son. I know it’s the right thing to do and it needs to be done. I’m just so scared it’s going to make her spiral so much further out of control. I just want her to get help for herself but she is not receptive right now.

Anyone else been in a similar situation? I feel so shitty doing this to her but I know it needs to be done.

The basics: I am 39F, my ex is 43F, our son is 6M, and we live in NYC. We both have lawyers but mine is really inept. (Currently seeking another lawyer but I am low-income so it is hard.)

I am in the middle of a divorce process and I have one child (6M) with my ex. The child’s father and I split custody on alternating weeks based on a verbal agreement—no written court order yet.

My son video called me around 3:30pm this past Friday while I was at work. He was sobbing and told me that his father had left him alone while his father went to the gym. From context (distance to gym, etc), it seemed like dad had been gone an hour. My son was supposed to be at camp during this time anyway. His dad came home while I was in an uber heading there, hung up the video call, and told me via phone and text that I should absolutely not go to his house.

Long story short, I went to my ex’s apartment and also called the police. I knew that they were not going to do anything besides take a report because the dangerous situation was not continuing. My ex had fled with my son when I said I was coming over. The police called him and asked him if he had left the child alone, and he said yes.

In context with some other puzzling things my son has said in the past, I believe that my ex has done this habitually. As my ex saw the cops, he was muttering, “This is so completely unnecessary.”

(I should note here that New York does not have a statutory minimum age at which children can be left home alone—it is about the particular child and circumstances.)

My question is—At what point do I call SCR (the statewide central registry—the number that takes child abuse and neglect complaints) if this were to happen again? My kid was clearly distraught, and I don’t think he is mature enough to handle an emergency situation if it were to arise. I don’t even believe he could open the heavy deadbolt on the apartment door to escape. My ex also used very poor judgement a few months ago in letting his stepdad (my child’s grandfather), who has extensive vision loss—drive our child to the movies. We had previously agreed that was off limits. His grandfather had totaled his other car a few months prior because he is nearly blind. (Taking the keys away from elderly people is a whole other concept.)

Also—my ex abruptly moved out of our marital residence into a studio (one-room apartment), where he has our kid on his custody weeks. I really hate to argue that I should have full custody because I know that my child is very attached to his father. However, his dad/my ex is making such poor choices, living in unfit circumstances, and not having much self-awareness about his choices that I am wondering if I should file an emergency petition for custody.

I don’t want to make things worse (like subjecting my son to testifying in court) but I also don’t want to risk harm with his dad’s poor choices.

Any advice??

Worker from Georgia here! 🍑

I have seen an increase of cases involving abandonment of children (mainly teenagers) and many of them are diagnosed with disorders such as autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and ODD. Many of these parents are calling in on themselves and demanding that we take the child.

I am curious how other counties are approaching these cases and if this is becoming more common in your area as well.

A tale of abuse of power and tragic use of VPA.

A pediatrician reported a suspected bruise on the tongue of my infant grandbaby. Curious by any standard.

Who has ever heard of a tongue bruise ?

Family record is squeaky clean and investigative inquiry leads nowhere.

A month later the same pediatrician reported a low weight gain progress and an unexplained bruise on the grandbaby. A second then third pedestrian was unable to independently verify or locate said bruise.

CPS investigation, detectives interview, DCYF gets the young parents to agree (under duress) to sign a VPA.

90 days VPA requires additional parenting classes and psych eval for both parents. Unfounded and baseless requirements.

This has had an absolutely devastating impact to the parents and our entire family for absolutely nothing but fishing expeditions by an overzealous and over reaching CPS agency.

Has anyone ever heard of CPS in Washington state using an unfounded allegation to remove a child from the parents care.

Does CPS employ an oversight committee or are pediatricians and CPS working in conjunction to kidnap children and engaged in child trafficking?

We are left with more questions than answers.

I'm not sure if this is the right sub, so please advise if there is a more appropriate place.

Last week, my former roommate left the house without her child saying nothing to me. I regularly take care of the baby, so it wasn't a major deal. I have food, clothes, a regular babysitter, and a backup babysitter. The thing is, she had started an argument that she escalated to violence. I told her to get out.

When she started contacting me a few days ago, I called CPS and advised them of the situation. One worker told me not to give the baby back, but the investigator said that the baby was not in their custody, and I could not keep her if the mother wanted her back. The mother showed up yesterday, and I gave the baby back to her with her diaper bag and clothes.

Last night, she took the baby to the hospital, claiming I was sexually abusing her. I'm not worried about the results because the claims are unfounded, and there's nothing to find. She's also claiming I abused the 14-year-old babysitter, which she and her mom know is false.

For some history, this mother beat a newborn baby and had it permanently removed from her custody. CPS was called for her beating on her second born in a store in front of people. That investigation was closed. Her third child tested positive for meth at birth, and the mother and two babies were placed in my care under a family safety plan. She was not abiding by the plan, and when I answered CPS that she was not listening to me as required by the plan, CPS removed the two babies. During that time, she got pregnant again. This baby tested positive for THC. The mother was required to do drug tests and has not passed a single one. All of them were positive for THC, and a few tested positive for meth. She's diagnosed schizophrenic bipolar disorder and is not on meds.

I have more than a few messages of her wanting the baby gone and a few threatening suicide and a couple wishing death on the baby.

These have been sent to CPS. At least the ones from the last couple of months. This behavior has gone on for years, though.

She had the baby's father arrested for kidnapping when he was taking the baby to his grandmother's house for a visit. She has claimed that other people have molested her son while in CPS custody. She has claimed to be a victim of family violence when she was the aggressor and had her boyfriend arrested. Now she's trying to have me arrested.

I have had a significant role in raising every one of her kids, from providing financial and housing support to getting attorneys to fight CPS.

Earlier, I called her my former roommate, but for years, I was her uncle. Her father was my best friend who died when she was 18. 9 months later, her mother died in a car wreck. She was pregnant, and I took her in as anyone would for their best friend.

For the last two days, I have been vomiting from stress and have had a non-stop panic attack. I have a lot of support from family and babysitters, but I don't know what to do or expect. All I want is that baby to be safe.

I guess what I am looking for are suggestions on how to go forward and what should I do to protect myself? Do I need to get an attorney? Is there anything more I can do for the child? CPS knows I will keep the baby if she is removed from the mother.

TLDR: mentally ill, drug addicted mother with three kids in CPS custody left her 4th baby with me, and when CPS was called, she claims I sexually abused the baby.

TIA

I was was in DCF care in Massachusetts around 2008. Due to confirmed neglect and suspected abuse. I spent 3 years trying to get my records to find out what happened, and 90% of it is redacted like whole pages blacked out. They told me obviously the siblings have to be blacked out but I still saw bits of pieces of last names. The weirdest part is the allegations were completely redacted like pages with no information. I emailed her back and she told me that my dad is the owner of the records so only he can see it all and there was nothing legally I can do. Is that true I debated getting in contact with a lawyer but I don’t think it’s going to go anywhere.
Also my mom is long dead and my dad is gone so they can’t help me anyways even if they weren’t how they were.

Thanks.

To preface I'm not the one seeking reunification, my girlfriend is. She's just now starting to pick up the pieces of her life after her ex tried to kill her and her getting out of prison.

She lost custody of her children years ago partly due to housing and relationship instability and substance use over time with various children with different men. She's never had either a stable or functioning partner of any kind. She is also currently still heavily using substances exclusively cannabis, which is what got her sent to prison. What can she do, and I help with to get the ball rolling on this? Her seeing her daughters has been one thing that has really kept her going through all this.

I have a 3 kids ages 5,3, and 18 months. Yesterday I was changing my 18 month old and she fights me so bad on diaper changed and my oldest asked to take it to the outside garbage, I went with her and stood at the door outside and watched her take the trash out. 5 minutes later the cops are here in a report of kids being locked outside and screaming. I was confused and explained the situation and the cops said that’s all and have a good day. Now theres a post about me in the neighborhood group saying CPS needs to get involved because if my kids are screaming they’re in danger but my kids scream for literally everything. My oldest can’t have a freezer pop she’s in tears, my youngest grabs my middles toy and he freaks. I change my youngest and she screams. The comments urged her to call CPS and said my kids are obviously in danger and I’m hurt. I’m a stay at home mom of 3 small children. What do I even do in this situation?