[MomInCorazon]

Last Friday Pumpkin and Monkey Man reported being hit by mom (on a regular basis) but the DCF investigator called by the school (MM told his teacher) said there wasn't proof of physical abuse so he was likely going to be screening the allegation out. Since then both kids have relayed additional facts to me, incl. mom threatening MM since the DCF contact last Friday when she signed a contract not to use threats of or actual physical force on the kids. Pumpkin is terrified of mom and has repeatedly said she does not want to be there, that she wants to be anywhere else. Mom has also repeatedly made statements to the effect of no one is going to tell her what to do in her own house. I need to email DCF by tomorrow morning at the latest to let them know what the kids told me (I wrote down the exact quotes). HOW do I express this information to DCF? I am so emotional at this point and I know I have to give just-the-facts so I am asking for help. Can someone suggest a statement of why I am emailing the SW (cc:ing the supervisor and my worker as well)? I want to focus on the kids' best interests and not seem to be conveying my own. Any help is most appreciated, night owls!

[just-breathe]

I have been in a somewhat similar situation. I had to report that my fs, who we were doing pre-placement visits with as a pre-adoptive placement, told us he was being hit by his ffm. I felt like no one would take me seriously due to thinking I had ulterior motives. It stinks that we have to worry about other people worrying that we have an agenda when you just want to help the kids!

Maybe you could say something like, "Being an actively licensed foster parent, I know I have to report the disclosures made to me by Pumpkin." Frame it in that light, maybe?

[digmykids]

Put those emotions away now and then write out the facts! Word for word what you were told and the child's demeanor at the time of telling.
So sorry your dealing with this but glad they have you!!

[MomInCorazon]

I feel so flummoxed that I have writer's block. I am a licensed foster parent but also the kids' "aunt" and am currently seen by DCF in this situation as a concerned family member. Ugh. Keep the suggestions coming. I can't even think how to phrase the facts! Do I just list one quote after another? Do I describe the circumstances of each conversation? I don't want it to seem like I was interrogating the kids - I did ask MM two follow up questions to what he had told his teacher the day before but P disclosed on her own - it was kind of like once the floodgates were open (she had not told before for fear of getting mom in trouble and mom getting mad at her) that she just needed to share. Of course I know I can't include any of that analysis in my email.

[alys1]

Start something like, "It is my understanding that as a mandated reporter, I must report all statements of abuse made to me by any children."

What you say in that sentence doesn't ahve to be perfect. It might be better if it wasn't perfect. Then, just as you said, you start your list.

On Friday at 6 PM, P said, "....."
R replied to her "...."

At 8:30 AM during breakfast MM said: "..."

What you don't say is, "With a look of utter terror on her face, and fear in her voice, P said...." That's an example of an opinion.

IF someone calls and says, "Why did you report this NOW?" You say, "Because they disclosed now. I'm a mandated reporter, and my understanding is that we have to report things in a timely fashion. If they had disclosed this 3 months from now, I would have reported it then, or if they had said this 3 months ago I would have reported it then. "

Best of success.

[rmsept81]

I would call the hotline. You are a mandated reporter. You have received information about abuse and are concerned for the welfare of the children. Then I would email the case worker the same information. Die to being a mandated reporter I felt this fell under those rules. As the childrens Aunt and former care giver I wanted to give you, their case worker the facts as reported to me by the children. Then leave as much emotion out a possible.

[racingwife20]

Originally Posted by rmsept81

I would call the hotline. You are a mandated reporter. You have received information about abuse and are concerned for the welfare of the children. Then I would email the case worker the same information. Die to being a mandated reporter I felt this fell under those rules. As the childrens Aunt and former care giver I wanted to give you, their case worker the facts as reported to me by the children. Then leave as much emotion out a possible.

This. Hotline because you are a mandated reporter, even though the children have disclosed to someone else. When you email the caseworker don't use terms like "I feel", "I'm concerned", etc. Strictly state the facts. P said "xyz". MM said "xyz". Tell the CW you called the hotline (as you are required to do so).

[MomInCorazon]

Thank you all for your help. I just sent the email - facts only and used the line that I was sending this because I am a mandated reporter. I have to pray that someone listens although knowing this system hope is hard to come by.

[MomInCorazon]

Originally Posted by rmsept81

I would call the hotline. You are a mandated reporter. You have received information about abuse and are concerned for the welfare of the children. Then I would email the case worker the same information. Die to being a mandated reporter I felt this fell under those rules. As the childrens Aunt and former care giver I wanted to give you, their case worker the facts as reported to me by the children. Then leave as much emotion out a possible.

Thank you for the suggestion. I did send the email to the kids' SW and her supervisor and also CC:ed my FP worker. I sent my worker an additional email asking if I need to hotline this as well or if the email to the SW satisfies my duty as a mandated reporter. I will let you know what she says.

[Hoping2adoptsibs]

My heart goes out to you and the children. I want to believe that something will be done this time instead of people passing it off on the school or the school on DHS.

I'm glad others said to take all the emotion out of it. It's hard to not convey the children's emotions of how Pumpkin and MM said them. I'm sure they were really nervous since they kept it bottled up for some time.

[MomInCorazon]

My worker checked with her supervisor and told me to hotline it so I just did that. The hotline intake person did not inspire confidence, however, because she kept trying to tell me that I was NOT a mandated reporter because although I am a foster parent the children are not currently placed in my home. Really? I know the law better than her and this is what she does every day exclusively?

The LAST thing I wanted to do was file as a mandated reporter because that makes my name public and mom will be told. And I - and the kids - will be punished. I know I had no other choice but I am so very scared - both of what will happen and what won't.

I am not a religious person but I would really appreciate prayers or good thoughts for these kids. I also want to thank you all for your support. Having this board to come to has gotten me through some dark, hopeless days and I am counting on it to help me get through this as well.

[Nevada Jen]

You probably aren't a mandated reporter. YOur mandated reporting duties are likely very limited. FOr instance, I am a mandated reporter only if I am dealing with kids in my professional capacity but not if it interfere's with attorney client priviledge. So, if I see my neighbor beating her kids with a stick out on the street every morning, I am not a mandated reporter because in that situation, she is just my neighbor. If another child comes to me and says, you are an attorney, my friend who lives across from you gets beaten in the street by his mom everyday, THEN I am a mandated reporter of the information.

If you read the definition of what a mandated reporter is in your state and what the duties are for that class of mandated reporter, you might be suprised by how limited your legal duties actually are.

I REALLY hope DFS does something for these children. It is ridiculous that mom is getting away with this. You could also consider the next time something happens like this, calling the police instead of DFS. Even if all the police are going to do is call DFS, a call from the police usually gets taken a little more seriously.

[Hoping2adoptsibs]

That's true. If nothing happens poor Pumpkin has to amp it up.

[MomInCorazon]

Originally Posted by Nevada Jen

You probably aren't a mandated reporter. YOur mandated reporting duties are likely very limited. FOr instance, I am a mandated reporter only if I am dealing with kids in my professional capacity but not if it interfere's with attorney client priviledge. So, if I see my neighbor beating her kids with a stick out on the street every morning, I am not a mandated reporter because in that situation, she is just my neighbor. If another child comes to me and says, you are an attorney, my friend who lives across from you gets beaten in the street by his mom everyday, THEN I am a mandated reporter of the information.

If you read the definition of what a mandated reporter is in your state and what the duties are for that class of mandated reporter, you might be suprised by how limited your legal duties actually are.

This is directly from the MA laws General Laws: CHAPTER 119, Section 21:
“Mandated reporter”, a person who is: (i) a physician, medical intern, hospital personnel engaged in the examination, care or treatment of persons, medical examiner, psychologist, emergency medical technician, dentist, nurse, chiropractor, podiatrist, optometrist, osteopath, allied mental health and human services professional licensed under section 165 of chapter 112, drug and alcoholism counselor, psychiatrist or clinical social worker; (ii) a public or private school teacher, educational administrator, guidance or family counselor, child care worker, person paid to care for or work with a child in any public or private facility, or home or program funded by the commonwealth or licensed under chapter 15D that provides child care or residential services to children or that provides the services of child care resource and referral agencies, voucher management agencies or family child care systems or child care food programs, licensor of the department of early education and care or school attendance officer; (iii) a probation officer, clerk-magistrate of a district court, parole officer, social worker, foster parent, firefighter, police officer; (iv) a priest, rabbi, clergy member, ordained or licensed minister, leader of any church or religious body, accredited Christian Science practitioner, person performing official duties on behalf of a church or religious body that are recognized as the duties of a priest, rabbi, clergy, ordained or licensed minister, leader of any church or religious body, accredited Christian Science practitioner, or person employed by a church or religious body to supervise, educate, coach, train or counsel a child on a regular basis; (v) in charge of a medical or other public or private institution, school or facility or that person’s designated agent; or (vi) the child advocate.

I read this to mean every foster parent is a mandated reporter and that is what we were taught in MAPP class. After the scandal about the Catholic Church not reporting alleged sexual abuse the MA legislature widened the definition of mandated reporter to that which is quoted above.

[MomInCorazon]

Originally Posted by Nevada Jen

I REALLY hope DFS does something for these children. It is ridiculous that mom is getting away with this. You could also consider the next time something happens like this, calling the police instead of DFS. Even if all the police are going to do is call DFS, a call from the police usually gets taken a little more seriously.

The DCF investigator actually told Pumpkin she could always call 911. Can you imagine putting that burden on a child? We don't believe you now - there isn't enough proof - but go home with mom and if she does it again call the police. Disgusting.