View Full Version : Is Reunification of Children to Abusive Parents Wrong ?
What do you think of this legislation that reunification with parents that have severely abused or neglected their children?
I liken it to if an abused woman attempts to leave a husband and the government encourages reunification?
Why is it children ever have to see these people again? Especially if the child was only a baby at the time and need never remember them?
Sorry I find it not a good thing for kids at all :(
Boobycino
17-02-2011, 20:13
It depends. It really depends.
I think some people have the capacity to change and I think a child is worth changing for.
HOWEVER - it's got to be a highly observed, very thought out planned and controlled process and it's got to be for the right reasons.
Do I believe some people should never see their children again? Yes - because you can't get custody back when your rotting in jail.
But do I think it's s human situation where every situation is going to be different? Ya-ha.
And ultimately 100% must be in the Childs best interests. The abusers rights are null and void when they crossed the boundary - but if it's genuinely the best thing to try for for the child then I think it wouldn't be fair to deny a child thei parents either.
Annabella
17-02-2011, 21:49
I don't know a lot about this but i remember reading something about it and how the bond between a parent and child is still extremely strong even in the case of abuse and neglect. Many children would still choose to be with their parents over a 'better' family despite being treated so badly. So I guess if the child themselves wants to try to reunite with his/her parents, and the parents are showing that they are trying to change, then i think supervised access could be ok? I dunno, I like to think people can change.
Restoration to parents who have fulfilled the requirements of a restoration plan, can prove that they have gained the necessary skills and supports to provide care to their children is most defintiely the best outcome a child in out of home care....
Even in the cases whereby restoration is not likely, where a child is not in immediate danger through visitation, birth family contact is advisable, and in the best interests of the child.... having a clear picture of where they have come from and their parents removes the mystery that they would otherwise go searching for when they hit adolescence and allows them to process their reality in a much more effective manner..... Children who are kept from the reality or have very little information around their early memories or parents tend to create fantasies around who they are, which can prove destructive when they hit those difficult teenage years....
So no, I don't support the notion that removing a child from their family never to be seen again is the best course of action for probably 99% of the cases for children in care.... obviously there are the occassional circumstances where it is absolutely paramount to their survival....
I don't know a lot about this but i remember reading something about it and how the bond between a parent and child is still extremely strong even in the case of abuse and neglect. Many children would still choose to be with their parents over a 'better' family despite being treated so badly. So I guess if the child themselves wants to try to reunite with his/her parents, and the parents are showing that they are trying to change, then i think supervised access could be ok? I dunno, I like to think people can change.
Exactly.... children of abuse see "normal" as something very different to those from typical families.... and the bond with family, although not always a healthily formed attachment, is most definitely a strong one.... children will question why they can't be with their family, was it their fault, have they done something wrong, are they bad.... regardless of how damaging their home life may have been....
From a science standpoint, the brains of children who have suffered abuse and not been given healthy attachments are actually quite different in comparison to the typical childs, and hence they process reality in a very different way....
delirium
17-02-2011, 23:05
Family reunification doesn't mean returning kids to guardians that continue to abuse. Workers will work with the parents on their issues; organise rehab, pay for parenting classes, help them engage with mental health professionals for counselling and possible meds. IF they are stabilised for a while and have proved a pattern on change then yes they are returned.
People can change is they want to. While of course I don't support parents keeping custody of their kids when they are abusing them, they should have the help to change and regain custody. It's healthier for the child and cheaper for the CP system to not have to fund foster care. ;)
ETA yes there are a small minority that should never have their kids returned. Most are trying the best they can managing addictions, unmedicated MI, etc etc and are just not doing a great job. Most have poor parenting techniques only a small amount are bad parents.
share a book
17-02-2011, 23:08
No it's not wrong. The law states that the best place for children is with parents, and with the assistance of services, when there is no risk to the child and the family has continued support from various services, it is in the best interest of the child to be with the family even if there was previous abuse.
Completely....
I think all to often we forget that there are many many complex and varied reasons why people find themselves in the situation where they are unable to provide adequate and safe care to their kids.... Yes in some circumstances it just comes down to poor choices, but we need to recognise the very real fact that a lot of people involved in this system have been caught up in it for generations.... if you have never been modelled appropriate parenting, if you don't have a base level education, if you are taught to fear a system that is set up also to empower, then its a very real possibility that the cycle will continue onwards with the next generation.....
With supports, with education, with mental health care (which is a factor for a lot of families in the system), there is the opportunity for growth, change and restoration that can empower not only those parents, but also their children, and childrens children....
Enacting another stolen generation of sorts does nothing to improve the stats of child abuse and children in out of home care long term.... early intervention and providing supports to families at risk however may....
Annabella
18-02-2011, 00:02
So well said veritas :)
Thanks to all for your replies. These replies are all interesting from a objective perspective, and I am sure you could find facts and statistics if pushed to it.
The very point that a couple of you mentioned is that these children see this treatment of themselves as 'normal' as they have not known anything better.
That is what scares me. I think subjectively and intuitively that a child removed from that type of 'normal' and socialised in a more stable family, and God knows the adoption requests out there are huge from very decent couples, that they would have a better chance than put back into places with parents with severe MI, poor parenting styles, lack of intellect or etc
What I have discovered through hands on experience with a situation like this recently, is that I cannot compute at all in my world view how or why we as a society would want some of these people to see their children or for that matter ever breed again.
Why is it children are expected to be socialised by people that are anti-social? Does that not defeat the purpose of trying to improve our society?
I fear I am loosing my ability to appreciate freedom today.. just dont get how some parents can choose to treat their kids so badly then expect that they should have their children, like they are a trophy or something.
An adult treated like these abused kids are treated would not be expected to face their assaulter again! It is insane.. there is no real justice or protection of children in my opinion.
Its hard to comment without knowing the actual kind of abuse/neglect you are referring to and the circumstances, the nature of the parent and their upbringing also, but where to you something may seem like choice it's often in fact a consequence of their own upbringing or circumstance.... With support and education a lot of people actually will have the impetus to grow and improve their world....
It's a societal problem just as much as an individual one...
share a book
18-02-2011, 08:20
Who are we to say which "type" of people can or cannot have kids. Yourself Pax, you have 5 kids and I bet there are a few people who disagree with your way of parenting them (not saying it's right or wrong, but people will disagree) and believe that you should not have had kids. That's not having a go at you, I don't know what you're like, but I do know that it's been said about me before yet my child is clean, well fed, cared for, loved, entertained, but I don't have a lot of money and suffer from a mental health problem so there are people who would believe that people like me should not have kids.
How many times have you seen it said that those on an already low income should not have anymore kids? How many times have you seen it said that people shouldn't have "too many" kids?
I know of one couple in particular and saw them out yesterday with their kids. Neither parent can read or write, neither parent has a good level of comprehension, neither one can do a proper risk assessment of situations so they don't know if a child is in a dangerous position when doing activities or not (for instance, sitting a 12 month old on a bench beside the oven while cooking) and in this case the father's mother lives with them and is very supportive. She doesn't take over, they are under the watchful eye of child safety and are left to parent, but with supervision of someone inside the house at all times, and an agency who visits them. The parents are unable to do the groceries and other things that are "normal" everyday activities.
What's normal to us and what's not normal to us doesn't mean we are right over someone else. Sure when it comes to blatant abuse and neglect it can't continue, but then these parents are not given the kids straight back in most cases, the parents do a whole lot of work to get the kids back. I've read a couple of statements around the forums where people have mentioned how their kids were in foster care and now they have them back. I don't know the story, but who knows if those parents were abusive and neglectful and went on to learn different and better ways and are now wonderful parents.
Remember that most abusive parents grew up like that and have to learn new ways in order to implement those ways. Child Safety will work with the family and only remove children if it's necessary to do so. They will continue to work with the family to reunite children and parents, but only after teaching the parents new and better ways of coping and parenting, and even then they are not just left alone after that, they are watched and checked on, and in some of those cases children are removed again because parents have gone back to doing things the only way they know how to.
delirium
18-02-2011, 08:59
Why is it children are expected to be socialised by people that are anti-social? Does that not defeat the purpose of trying to improve our society?
Bc those anti social tendancies and parenting inadequacies are worked on. The child is not reunified until they can prove changes. Of course we see cases in the media of children being given back to parents that end up seriously harming them or even taking their life. But 1)the system is not perfect and never will be considering those working in it are imperfect 2) sometimes parents can improve and show sustained change, only to relapse/come off meds/re-enter DV relationships etc.
BlissedOut
18-02-2011, 09:25
Thanks to all for your replies. These replies are all interesting from a objective perspective, and I am sure you could find facts and statistics if pushed to it.
The very point that a couple of you mentioned is that these children see this treatment of themselves as 'normal' as they have not known anything better.
That is what scares me. I think subjectively and intuitively that a child removed from that type of 'normal' and socialised in a more stable family, and God knows the adoption requests out there are huge from very decent couples, that they would have a better chance than put back into places with parents with severe MI, poor parenting styles, lack of intellect or etc
What I have discovered through hands on experience with a situation like this recently, is that I cannot compute at all in my world view how or why we as a society would want some of these people to see their children or for that matter ever breed again.
Why is it children are expected to be socialised by people that are anti-social? Does that not defeat the purpose of trying to improve our society?
I fear I am loosing my ability to appreciate freedom today.. just dont get how some parents can choose to treat their kids so badly then expect that they should have their children, like they are a trophy or something.
An adult treated like these abused kids are treated would not be expected to face their assaulter again! It is insane.. there is no real justice or protection of children in my opinion.
The difference is, these children don't go back against their will, it's something they desire very much (to be reunificated with their family).
To suggest these children should be stripped of their family identity and adopted out is cruel to the children.
Often these parents are affected by mental illness or drug addictions, which are treatable things, it should also be noted there is a huge list of hurdles these parents need to clear before they can have their children back in their care and that once the children are returned, continual monitoring, counselling etc... is mandatory.
I had the pleasure of witnessing one of these rare (yes, rare, they might be a common objective, but they are a rare achievement sadly) reunifications, the father and mother had a nasty DV background, the kids were removed from their care, he left the wife, did everything asked of him and just over a year later had set up a home suitable for him to raise his children on his own.
3 years later, he's still providing for his children and very happy.
I am trying VERY hard to fathom all this. Makes no common sense to me and MY own socialised values, beliefs etc. Thinking I need to see happy endings to believe it :(
delirium
18-02-2011, 10:11
It's my understanding you have experienced MI? I'm pretty sure anyway, there are a lot of members :p So what's your thoughts on this scenario.
A mother has a MI, which she either isn't medicated for, or the symptoms has drastically worsened since her marriage broke down. She is having delusions, is depressed and can't even get out of bed. As a result she is not feeding the kids, her youngest still in nappies is not being regularly changed and the kids are roaming the streets while she is asleep. She is also smacking them all the time bc she can't deal with parenting. The father notifies on her, she has the kids removed and put in his care. CP then work with a psychiatrist to stabilise her with the right meds. She goes to intensive counselling to deal with her MI and the marriage break down. In 4-6 months she is much better, her MI is in check and she has been assigned a caseworker from a non govt organisation to work with her and keep an eye on her. She is now playing a sport to seek interaction and exercise to help her MI. She's involved with a MI support group that meets weekly.
Should she have those kids back??
Used to believe it was a good thing. Then a little baby in my inner circle I guess was beaten and strangled by either her mother or father- it was proven the abuse happened almost since she was born. Now I couldn't give a damn what anyone says- that little girl never needs to know about her parents who nearly killed her. Let her be happy with some loving family. In cases of less severe abuse or neglect where it may be a case of education or counselling etc I believe it can be good
WorkingClassMum
18-02-2011, 10:48
just typed a huGe response and it disappeared:freakingout:
There is mush evidence that the reunification of a family is quite often in the best interests of the entire family
The denied instinct of a child to be with their parent causes other mental anguish that causes many other problems
Many inadequate parents had inadequate parents and often know no difference, they often fear asking for help as they have been taught to avoid authorities/help since they too were kids
A parent who has had help, learned better/correct parenting techniques/nutrition/anger management are often the best people to reinstill faith and trust in their children and is often the only way the cycle is broken.
Children who are removed often harbour deep resentment to BOTH their biological parent AND the system that removed them and failed them in the first place
I am now related to two such little people who were removed from the most appalling circumstances.
One of these amazing young people still has fantasies of re-unification even though it will never happen - and then when the realisation comes crashing down still has resentment and deep anger and terrible terrible sadness - even though this child is in safe, loving and supportive home.
So, while we as normal, average people do not understand, the smallest victims of these types of life stories grow up into adults - and many of the adults we now thoroughly condemn were once also the smallest victims
Annabella
18-02-2011, 10:52
I guess I don't really see it as a 'choice'. Like PP said, most of these people come from difficult backgrounds themselves, and also like Veritas said, if the children are able to access their parents, it takes away that 'mystery' about them, that may prove very troublesome in their adolescent years. We all (most of us anyway) have a very deep yearning to know our roots, where we are from, our family background.
I guess I am coming to this discussion from a fairly personal viewpoint. Some members of my husband's family, their kids stay up til whenever they want, eat lots of takeaway, drink coke in their bottles, sit around watching the parents drink regularly, have rotten teeth, often go without food, watch inappropriate movies (violent etc), miss school a lot etc etc. I know as the kids get older, they will be flogged if they do the wrong thing (which is pretty normal and expected where i'm from). To many people this is neglect and abuse. But I can tell you now, these parents LOVE their kids more than anything, and the kids love them back. If anyone tried to take those kids away, the kids would be completely broken, all they would want is mum and dad. They are VERY attached kids.
I don't feel that these people made a 'choice', per se to parents this way, they just don't know any other way of doing it.
I get what you are saying Pax, children need to be protected, but in the scheme of things, even though I feel sad about the way these particular kids live, I also know they are better off like this, with their parents who really love them, and who they really love, than with another family who will love them too, but aren't their mum and dad. With abuse too, I know heaps of people who were bruised from their 'hidings' or 'floggings' as kids, and if my husband EVER tries to do that to my kids, we're gone, BUT although *I* see it as abusive, I think educating the parents on other ways of teaching kids is better than taking them away from their parents, who often just think they are doing the best thing for them.
It's my understanding you have experienced MI? I'm pretty sure anyway, there are a lot of members :p So what's your thoughts on this scenario.
A mother has a MI, which she either isn't medicated for, or the symptoms has drastically worsened since her marriage broke down. She is having delusions, is depressed and can't even get out of bed. As a result she is not feeding the kids, her youngest still in nappies is not being regularly changed and the kids are roaming the streets while she is asleep. She is also smacking them all the time bc she can't deal with parenting. The father notifies on her, she has the kids removed and put in his care. CP then work with a psychiatrist to stabilise her with the right meds. She goes to intensive counselling to deal with her MI and the marriage break down. In 4-6 months she is much better, her MI is in check and she has been assigned a caseworker from a non govt organisation to work with her and keep an eye on her. She is now playing a sport to seek interaction and exercise to help her MI. She's involved with a MI support group that meets weekly.
Should she have those kids back??
At the moment considering the traumatic situation I have lived in the past 8 weeks I will answer with a disclaimer of not feeling I can process it all yet. But to be honest right now I just dont give a rats ar$e about her .. The fact people keep talking about parental rights and not the childs rights is my whole frustration. What she deserves is not the point. To be honest I dont know. My feelings right now is No. From a long term social perspective I wonder if the government could make secure institutions for children that are based on modern child nurturing and checked intensely and regularly for any type of abuse I say bring on a stolen generation taking kids from abusive homes. What i saw a 1 year old go through with no particular sign of remorse from his mentally ill parents has shaken me deeply.
Used to believe it was a good thing. Then a little baby in my inner circle I guess was beaten and strangled by either her mother or father- it was proven the abuse happened almost since she was born. Now I couldn't give a damn what anyone says- that little girl never needs to know about her parents who nearly killed her. Let her be happy with some loving family. In cases of less severe abuse or neglect where it may be a case of education or counselling etc I believe it can be good
that is how i feel right now :no:
BlissedOut
18-02-2011, 18:37
At the moment considering the traumatic situation I have lived in the past 8 weeks I will answer with a disclaimer of not feeling I can process it all yet. But to be honest right now I just dont give a rats ar$e about her .. The fact people keep talking about parental rights and not the childs rights is my whole frustration. What she deserves is not the point. To be honest I dont know. My feelings right now is No. From a long term social perspective I wonder if the government could make secure institutions for children that are based on modern child nurturing and checked intensely and regularly for any type of abuse I say bring on a stolen generation taking kids from abusive homes. What i saw a 1 year old go through with no particular sign of remorse from his mentally ill parents has shaken me deeply.
The thing with the DOCS and their reunification policy is that it IS about the childs rights.
You say bring on a stolen generation? The affects of the last one are still impacting negatively on society now and the affects one of the big considerations in child safety legislation in Australia.
What you suggest is a hideous step back in time to something that didn't work and caused more harm than good.
BlissedOut
18-02-2011, 18:45
Used to believe it was a good thing. Then a little baby in my inner circle I guess was beaten and strangled by either her mother or father- it was proven the abuse happened almost since she was born. Now I couldn't give a damn what anyone says- that little girl never needs to know about her parents who nearly killed her. Let her be happy with some loving family. In cases of less severe abuse or neglect where it may be a case of education or counselling etc I believe it can be good
That baby has the right to know her biological family, it's not a choice someone else can make for her, the courts may keep her away from her family until she can choose though, especially in extreme cases like this.
However once old enough to say so, it becomes her choice, she has the right to access her files and the right to know why she's in care, so she will know and be equipped with the knowledge to make a decision for herself.
It's her right to have family identity and contact.
In the mean time, given her age, I'm sure she will be with some loving family.
I saw a heartbreaking show once about children of drug and alcohol dependent parents, and the tendency they had to end up addicts themselves. It was a few years ago but one thing that really stuck with me was the fact that the children would just find themselves settling down into foster care when the parent would call on their "rights" and the child would find themselves back in a destructive situation. The terribly scary thing was the sheer number of drug addicts who had been raised in an environment of addiction; proof that to break the cycle the children needed to be removed and raised in a safe environment.
IMO a child's need for security and stability trumps a parent's "right" to have access to their child. In the case of genuine rehabilitation I'm more than sympathetic, but I think statistics prove that genuine rehabilitation is the exception to the rule.
Pax, it is absolutely heartbreaking when you are witness to child abuse, and it is very very difficult to comprehend the benefits of planned rrunification. But what veritas and others have pointed out is almost certainly the case. And certainly represents current bedt practice.
Reunification is almost always in a child's long term best interests. These kids don't just get placed with nice middle class families and become nice middle class kids.
It sounds like you gave been through a lot ofvtrauma recently. Big hugs to you.
WorkingClassMum
18-02-2011, 19:09
IMO a child's need for security and stability trumps a parent's "right" to have access to their child.
Actually it's the child(ren)'s rights to know their parents moreso than the parent's right to the child
but I think statistics prove that genuine rehabilitation is the exception to the rule.
Please be very careful with that statement - It depends on why the child was removed - there are a couple of hubber's who've been through some tough times, had their kids removed, they've attended education course and support groups and they have their kids back.
If we are talking about say a serious drug or alcohol abuse problem, then successful rehab is not as common, but for very many other issues 'rehab' is quite common
Actually it's the child(ren)'s rights to know their parents moreso than the parent's right to the child
Please be very careful with that statement - It depends on why the child was removed - there are a couple of hubber's who've been through some tough times, had their kids removed, they've attended education course and support groups and they have their kids back.
If we are talking about say a serious drug or alcohol abuse problem, then successful rehab is not as common, but for very many other issues 'rehab' is quite common
I'm sorry; in the first paragraph I was careful to clarify that I was talking about parents who abused drugs and alcohol, and I failed to reiterate that.
tinkerbell87
18-02-2011, 19:42
I think it's a hard one but a case by case decision. I think if a parent deliberately abuses there child and harms them greatly or severe neglect I think for them to get them back they would have to have some drastic changes In place and some never. I think that I'n some cases they may need some medication or rehab like mi or alcohol or drug abuse. I think some just need some supervision and help. I think the goal should be for the family to reunite where appropriate. I'n the case of sexual assault no and extreme physical abuse no. But each family separately judged. Poor families and kiddies.
delirium
18-02-2011, 20:25
At the moment considering the traumatic situation I have lived in the past 8 weeks I will answer with a disclaimer of not feeling I can process it all yet. But to be honest right now I just dont give a rats ar$e about her .. The fact people keep talking about parental rights and not the childs rights is my whole frustration. What she deserves is not the point. To be honest I dont know. My feelings right now is No. From a long term social perspective I wonder if the government could make secure institutions for children that are based on modern child nurturing and checked intensely and regularly for any type of abuse I say bring on a stolen generation taking kids from abusive homes. What i saw a 1 year old go through with no particular sign of remorse from his mentally ill parents has shaken me deeply.
I totally understand the impact seeing all this must be having on you, it must be gut wrenching. But no one here is advocating leaving kids in abusive homes or returning kids to homes where the abuse and issues behind it, still exist. That's an important distinction. I support reunification for parents that have dealt with the reasons they have abused and moved on from them.
Maybe the best thing to happen for this couple is to lose their child, and be offered lots of help by child protection to fix what's wrong.
share a book
18-02-2011, 20:43
Is taking children from families who are never given the help they so badly need and deserve in order for them to be good parents wrong? I think it is. Well, I don't think taking them in the first place is wrong, but I do think it would be wrong to remove them permanently instead of giving the family the support they need to be good parents for their children before returning children to their care. It's just as wrong as leaving kids with abusive parents without giving them the support they need to change their parenting.
Exactly swimmingupstream! I'm a huge advocate of providing more in home support to families and risk and greater early intervention strategies... It's the only way to initiate real change and benefit long term...
delirium
18-02-2011, 20:50
Yep early intervention is the way to go. In VIC where I worked there was lots of extra funding for those programs brought in by the bracks govt. Agencies recieve funding to work with clients who may have been reported to CP but the issues aren't serious enough (as yet) to warrant removal. Having a case worker can help to stop the issues escalating to a point where removal IS needed.
Yep we have Brighter Futures programs here in NSW too, id just love to see them utilized more effectively...
share a book
18-02-2011, 21:13
I think a lot of people have this fear of having their kids removed or fear of any sort of repurcussions should they ask for assistance when things are starting to go on a downward spiral.
I tried doing everything. I was working 23 hours a week over 3 days, 1 full day of 9 hours was filled doing study, I was parenting on my own, trying to keep the house absolutely spotless, and taking a child to appointments to try and have her diagnosed which took up a whole other day each and every week. Basically on weekends is when I tried to fit in family time as well as all those household chores that aren't everyday things.
I burnt out. Absolutely burnt out. I was terrified of asking for help. I work in an area related to this kind of thing and was worried about what it would mean for employment, was worried about what it would mean socially, and was worried that people would take her before looking at what the problems actually were. I was also worried about the stigma since I was already dealing with the stigma of being a single parent as well as the stigma involved with accepting assistance from Centrelink which I'd never had to do before in my life.
I drove myself into a deep dark place where dying seemed the only feasible option. That way I could keep my dignity and my child would go to a better family.
In short, I'm a GOOD mother, my child is WELL taken care of, and it could have still ended very badly for her because of that fear of asking for help. Do people deserve a second chance if they stuff up? So she wasn't harmed physically but she most certainly was harmed on an emotional level because I just couldn't be there in the way she needed.
That's my story and I've never had dealings with Child Safety myself as a parent (although worked closely with them through my workplace) and I have never abused or neglected my child other than this istance when things got way too much.
Thank goodness we live in a place where we have the help available and where it's not a "one strike and you're out" scenario.
Agreed... I think there needs to be somewhat of a societal shift too.... People need to acknowledge that child wellbeing is the responsibility of everyone, and sometimes it can be as little as offering a helping hand to a family at risk that can make the world of difference....
If people less time sitting in judgement in others, and more time showing compassion to those around them, understanding that these are families that need help to make generational change and break cyclic patterns, then the world would be a much less hostile place for those that really need assistance
strawberrycreams
18-02-2011, 22:05
Agreed... I think there needs to be somewhat of a societal shift too.... People need to acknowledge that child wellbeing is the responsibility of everyone, and sometimes it can be as little as offering a helping hand to a family at risk that can make the world of difference....
If people less time sitting in judgement in others, and more time showing compassion to those around them, understanding that these are families that need help to make generational change and break cyclic patterns, then the world would be a much less hostile place for those that really need assistance
I want to shout from the roof tops... YES!!!! I agree with you on all fronts but ESPECIALLY this!!!
People need to shift their mindset. Not all children who have been removed from their family come from parent who are "deadbeats" and "losers" that will never change.
Reunification is what is BEST for the child! Sometimes families need help to be families. IMO that is what foster care is all about! It is NOT an alternative to adoption!!! Foster carers are just ONE part of the team that help families to be families again!!!
I feel just as sorry for the mothers and fathers who are not able and/or willing to protect their children from harm or risk of harm as I do for the children who are being removed from their families!
I think we need more compasion, empathy, more social responsibility just the Veritas said!!!
:yes::yes::yes::yes::yes::yes::yes::yes:
In the situation we are in, we had the parents living with us for 8 weeks and I was spending 24/7 teaching them how to do everything for their baby. When they smacked him I would show them research (which they prob did not understand) and explained its not good for kids who are only 1 to be smacked. But they replied with "child safety told us a smack is okay" but I am sure the safety officer that said that did not mean ALL THE TIME FOR EVERYTHING.
I would give more details but that would compromise their privacy.
We are continuing to support them externally now. WE have found both parents separate accommodation. Both employment and had mum re-enrolled in year 12. We also had Child safety come and take the baby. Prior to come here they were known to child safety and they were transient so they had been lost to them.
We take Mum to medical appoints etc. WE are helping the parents and we hope it does work. However this is the 3rd generation of this family to be going through removal and reunification with parents and nothing is improving. Hence why i started this thread. It could have been stopped 2 generations ago with permanent removal.
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