When do you give up?

[Ava&Jacksons_Mumma]

I'm at a loss at the moment, i don't know what to do anymore.
A few months ago i posted this thread http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/showthread.php?t=214268 and since then nothing has changed.
I have called familiesSA & the police on numerous occasions and nothing seems to be being done.

On the occasions i have called the police, they show up and basically my neighbours lie to them and the police buy it & leave.

I don't want these kids to be harmed or to grow up in a cycle of abuse.
I don't want them to be seriously hurt knowing there might have been something else i could have done.

Please- does anyone else have any suggestion on who i could contact in reagrds to the welfare of these kids??

[Ava&Jacksons_Mumma]

Anyone?

[SuperGranny]

hi, have you contacted the children welfare dept on more then one occasion?? If you have and you feel nothing is being done , maybe you should contact your local member of parliment. If the children dept is not acting, then the politician should be able to follow up for you. I think govenment depts work faster if the paliment is aware of something not right. Also maybe keep a diary of these incidents, and when you have cause to ring the police, tell them you have been making notes of occasions and you can prove that it seems to be ongoing abuse. hope that helps, Marie. ps i would hate to be in your situation, i would be worried sick, hugs, M

[kirstenriley]

thats awful, unfortunately apart from continually contacting wefare im not sure.

[mum of 3]

you need to put it in writing and send it to childrens cervices as well as call them when ever you see this happening and time and date it in a jurnal so if nothing comes of it and anything does go wrong you have some proof

[BrettysGirl]

My opinion? DON'T give up. These children need a voice & so far that seems to be you.
Are any neighbours willing to back you up on this?

As well as documenting in a journal (date time who was there.. even if the old man a few doors down was out the front getting the paper.. he's STILL a witness) get some of it on tape - whether it be video via your mobile or voice recorder (you can do it from the safety of your own home if you like & they wont be any the wiser) - it'd be impossible for them to get out of it if they were on tape - sneaky? well yeah sort of but when a child/children's life are in harm who cares how sneaky it is

[FiveInTheBed]

Oh my gosh thats horrible:(

I agree with the above..and don't stop calling and reporting!!

you are so special for wanting to help, rather than just closing the front door and blocking it out:hugs:

[laylasmumma23]

Well since i know you live in Adelaide the WCH has a number you can call on child protective services..
http://www.wch.sa.gov.au/services/az/divisions/paedm/childprot/index.html

I think thats the right one...there is a number at the very bottom he is the head of child protection services..
If you need back up or an extra witness..i can help ya out :thumbsup:

'Individuals who suspect abuse/neglect of children should report their concerns to CYFS, by phoning the child abuse report line on (08) 131478, in the first instance.'
That was also on the website...maybe tell them about what you have seen and when it occured/s..
hope this helps.

[Lilahh]

:hugs:Oh hun thats terrible. :hugs: I've worked in the child welfare sector for past two years with kids living in residential care after being removed from their parents, and it always happens too late, when so many years of damage has already been done. Neighbours, teachers, friends of parents had reported the kids and their families numerous times for years but in my experience, kids only get removed when life endagering abuse/neglect is occuring, of horrific proportions.

I know its not right, but OFYCS/DHCS is completely understaffed and doesn't have the capacity to make good assessments on all children who get reported. The kids I worked with had suffered severe abuse/trauma and only came into the system when they were 10 -13 years old, which meant their baby siblings were left in the same environment and would probably stay there for another 10+ years until the situation gets completely and utterly out of control again. :gloomy:

I'm probably just making you feel worse, but this situation is extremely common, kids are completely left behind in an overburdened, understaffed, underfunded, underappreciated system that was designed to protect them. I've seen it happen many times. That doesn't mean you should ever give up or stop trying, the system desperately needs more people to start caring about our community's neglected and abused children. It's a horribly depressing thought, Im sending you many :hugs::hugs:. Best of luck to you and the little ones.