What can I do here?

[chadskee]

Re: What can I do here?

I called DSS last week. I'm not sure how that went. I explained the situation, gave them a lot of info and they appreciated the amount of detail I gave them. They said they'd decide whether or not to take the case that night.

Now from the "important" perspective, I get this text message from the girl today.

"Did you report to social services?"
"Should I?"
"No and i told you not to that's why i'm asking if you did cause someone did! And my life's even worse."
"Why? What happened?"
"Don't worry about it. I can't trust you anymore. Or anyone."
"Um...let's talk."
"No. You lost that right with me."

Oh that's not good. Keep on talking to Social Services I suppose. Don't let up on the whole deal.

[p_rushing]

Re: What can I do here?

I would call them back and let them know about the txt msg. You may want to talk to the case worker and see what can be done.

If that doesn't get any where, it might be time to pay a visit when the girl isn't home. Have a heart to heart, let him know you know everything. That there are drugs in the house, say you work at her school, and if she ever shows up with any bruises or doesn't come to school, your calling a tip into the cops.

Its probably going to take something major happening to her to get anything done.

[CMH]

Re: What can I do here?

If that doesn't get any where, it might be time to pay a visit when the girl isn't home. Have a heart to heart, let him know you know everything. That there are drugs in the house, say you work at her school, and if she ever shows up with any bruises or doesn't come to school, your calling a tip into the cops.

Man, I don't know. I thnk if Ryder does that, he won't be posting on OS anymore.

[duke776]

Re: What can I do here?

Man, I don't know. I thnk if Ryder does that, he won't be posting on OS anymore.

That's what I was thinking. If he's running some drug operation, I'm sure the dude has some guns. He'd just get rid of the threat.

[WDOgF0reL1fe]

Re: What can I do here?

I just started reading this...

I hope everything is ok over there Ruff.

[Hassan Darkside]

Re: What can I do here?

Man, I don't know. I thnk if Ryder does that, he won't be posting on OS anymore.

This is about right. She already told me before that he has guns in the house. I'm definitely not gonna try anything that drastic.

The worst part is I don't know what's going on and I can't talk to DSS until Monday. Even in then, there's no guarantee they'll tell me anything because they already said that they'd just mail me or call me if they decided to take the case. I was left with the impression that that's all the info I'm gonna get.

What I'm scared of is that they sent a case worker to the school to interview her and she lied to the case worker about what was going on. Then somehow her parents found out and she payed the consequences.

I'm gonna call her grandmother later today and talk to her, but I've pretty much broken the trust of the girl and she won't talk to me at all. So I don't know if I even made the right choice in calling DSS. I comfort myself believing that that was the lesser of two evils and that if something happened to her, I'd be devastated. But now it's like I've lost by making that decision, so eff me.

[lgkeeper]

Re: What can I do here?

I used to work as a summer camp director and had to deal with CPS (Child Protective Services) on a regular basis. First off, they're an under-worked, underpaid and, often, undereducated/trained group of people.

Second, you need to know that you can only control what you can control. You have a responsibility to report this to CPS (or DSS, whatever) and that is it.

Thirdly, as much as you want to develop relationships with the kids you work with, it's imperative you draw a clear line when you leave your youth group/church. Don't give out/take phone numbers, don't associate with kids outside of your group, don't become Facebook friends etc.

When you have a clear, thick line, there isn't much room for trouble.

[Kriech23]

Re: What can I do here?

Ruff good luck man. You did a great job so far, don't give up now.

[Hassan Darkside]

Re: What can I do here?

I used to work as a summer camp director and had to deal with CPS (Child Protective Services) on a regular basis. First off, they're an under-worked, underpaid and, often, undereducated/trained group of people.

Second, you need to know that you can only control what you can control. You have a responsibility to report this to CPS (or DSS, whatever) and that is it.

Thirdly, as much as you want to develop relationships with the kids you work with, it's imperative you draw a clear line when you leave your youth group/church. Don't give out/take phone numbers, don't associate with kids outside of your group, don't become Facebook friends etc.

When you have a clear, thick line, there isn't much room for trouble.

I'm not 100% sure on this stance. I understand it, but I'm pretty certain if I hadn't made an effort to develop a "relationship" with her, she still wouldn't have told anyone.

I talked to her grandmother yesterday and asked if she thought I made the right decision and she whole-heartedly believes I did the right thing. She said that I was her "hero." Ehh...

I'm still real uneasy about it though, I'm gonna get on the phone with CPS again tomorrow morning. The girl deleted my number from her phone and is pretty much pretending I don't exist lol. She doesn't realize what favor I'm doing for her.

According to her grandmother, a social worker pulled her out of class and talked to her during school. Her grandmother said that the girl said she told the truth but wouldn't elaborate on what exactly she told the social worker. So I'm thinking she withheld information and that's why she's still in the home right now.

Apparently her parents found out too and her step-father threatened her with a gun...so...=/ She probably feels she's paying the consequences for my "mistake."

I'm gonna do my best to get this resolved sooner rather than later. I couldn't care less if she hates me for eternity, as long as she's still breathing I suppose I'll be content.

[onlybygrace]

Re: What can I do here?

Uhm...eh...nevermind.

You're gonna do what you want anyways.