I think many of us are growing tired of the many "Should I Call CPS???" and "I'm Not Sure If I Should Call" posts, so I've created a guide for those who are unsure.
Circumstances under which you should call CPS:
- You have witnessed a child being beaten. This does not mean a swat on the backside, or an unruly teenager being slapped across the face. CPS will not remove kids over this, and in most cases, they won't even investigate. "Beaten" means someone is wailing on the kid uncontrollably, swinging a belt or other object on the kid more than a couple of times, striking the kid deliberately with an object somewhere other than the backside, punching or kicking a small child (they often won't investigate if the child is a teenager---trust me).
- You have witnessed a child being deliberately burned or scalded.
- You have witnessed a child who is, on MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, running around naked outside, especially if no parent or caregiver is present. I say "more than once" because kids, especially the pre-school aged kids, love running around naked. I know I did. When my twin sister and I were 4, we took off while our mom was trying to get us dressed after a bath, and made our way outside and down the sidewalk. My elderly neighbor, Mrs. Curry, had to swoop us up and return us to our mom. It happens. If it happens a lot, there may be a reason to call, though.
- You witness a child with a serious injury (broken bone, serious burn, severe laceration, etc) who has been left untreated.
- You witness or are made aware of sexual abuse of the child.
- You witness drug abuse in the home, or are made aware of it by the child, meaning the child has witnessed it.
- You are aware that the house lacks adequate plumbing, has been badly infected with mold or infested with rats and/or roaches, and no corrective action is being taken.
When NOT to call CPS:
- Your sister's baby-daddy's cousin's neighbor said blah, blah, blah, blah....
- You *THINK* something *MIGHT* be going on in the house, but have absolutely no proof of it.
- The child is running around outside without a coat and/or shoes on. Chances are the kid has a coat and/or shoes, and if you see it happening frequently, talk to the parents about it before you jump to conclusions and call CPS. IF the child truly doesn't have these things and you are unwilling to donate any or direct the parents to a charity, go ahead and call, but let me tell you---you're a shitty person for it.
- The child has complained that he or she has nothing to eat at home. Again, talk to the parents before you call. My niece would claim there was nothing to eat at my sister's house, and really, she just didn't want to eat spaghetti, Hamburger Helper, chilli, you name it. Don't assume there is no food unless you KNOW there is not. Again, if you are unwilling to give the family food or direct them to a food pantry, you're free to call, but I think you're a shitty person for it, and so does most of the civilized world.
- The child has been spanked. With few exceptions, spanking is legal, even if you don't like it.
- The child is made to do chores, such as cutting the grass, gathering firewood, painting the house, etc. Chores also are not illegal, even if you wouldn't have your child do them.
Anyone want to add anything else to this helpful guide?
"Roger that. Over."
R A D I O H E I D
My dad slapped me once. At 14. Because I got a B on my report card. Slapping CAN be abuse. I would rather call and it get looked into then not call, and a teen continue to be abused.
Quoting phantomphan:
My mom slapped me once. I totally deserved it.
Quoting cowboygal:
When my son was 6.5 he tried to steal candy from a video store. I swatted his butt right there, made him apologize to the clerk and she watched the whole thing. Has not tried that again.
Quoting carterscutie85:
Sometimes it is just a one time thing and does not indicate abuse.
When my brother was a teenager he got caught stealing from Kroger. My mom slapped him across the face when she got in that office to pick him up. Security, managers, etc said they didn't see anything.
Bet your ass I'd slap my kid too if he stole at that age.
Quoting radioheid:
I agree its bullshit, but more often than not, the cops won't do anything about it if the person who slapped the teen was his or her parent.
Quoting acaisha:
It started when I was 5... He smacked me on my behind 5 times then PINCHED ME.
When I was 6 he smacked me 6 times then pinched me again!
This continued until I was 15.... That day I got 15 smacks and yet another pinch...
Ahhh birthday traditions LMAO
Quoting MamaBear2cubs:Don't call on your daycare provider when your kid comes home with a scratch from playing on the playground. Kids fall,it happens even when your standing right there.So unless it was God awful and required medical attention then just don't. If your unhappy get a new sitter.
Sitter/Daycare should pay attention and let the parents know what happened if they can though.
I realize it's hard sometimes but they're getting paid so they should try. Hopefully that avoids the cps crap all together.
Quoting radioheid:
This post is as much a joke as it is serious. People will continue calling over stupid things, or calling as an act of revenge.
Quoting DixieL:
You said it now maybe people will listen and follow instructions.
I know Some people love revenge. They are just wasting the time of cps. Maybe God forbid they will be needing cps and they can't get there in time because of a crank call from someone else. I hope that never happen's but you never know
What? Are you flippin serious? Let me guess,it was someone on here.
Quoting phantomphan:
OMG not used clothes!
Yes I had someone threaten to call on me because I let my kids get dirty and dressed them in second hand clothes.
Quoting carterscutie85:I buy used clothes for this purpose lol.
Quoting phantomphan:
Oh no! Diiiiiiiiiiiiiiirt!
Quoting radioheid:
Someone had better get on the phone...
Quoting phantomphan:
Don't call because a 6 to us playing in the dirt. In old clothes. He's a 6 yo boy. He likes to dig. Kids get dirty. He'll get a bath tonight.
our last house had a moisture problem. no matter what we did the mold grew back, i was bleaching once a week and had dehumidifiers in all the rooms, it was just an old crappy house :( im glad im outta there and im glad cps was never called, but its not like i let it take over the house, i was always cleaning it and trying to rid the house of it! it ruined alot of our furniture...we lost our couch and rocking chair and it ruined some of my clothes in the closet. i should of kept them in rubbermaid totes! grr
Quoting cutebaby06:What? Are you flippin serious? Let me guess,it was someone on here.
Quoting phantomphan:
OMG not used clothes!
Yes I had someone threaten to call on me because I let my kids get dirty and dressed them in second hand clothes.
Quoting carterscutie85:I buy used clothes for this purpose lol.
Quoting phantomphan:
Oh no! Diiiiiiiiiiiiiiirt!
Quoting radioheid:
Someone had better get on the phone...
Quoting phantomphan:
Don't call because a 6 to us playing in the dirt. In old clothes. He's a 6 yo boy. He likes to dig. Kids get dirty. He'll get a bath tonight.
Is it just me, or... ?
NEED OPINIONS!!
- radioheid
on May. 3, 2012 at 11:37 AM