(TW) Update on my sister's child abuse case

[rebeccagrace.livejournal.com]

Hello VPers.

I wanted to give an update about my nephew's child abuse case. I called child services today to get an update on the case. The person in charge of the investigation told me that they had closed the case due to lack of evidence. I am so, so upset. The person basically told me that I was the only person who had come forward and that everyone else had said that it wasn't that bad, and/or they hadn't seen anything. I was made to feel like I was almost making it up, to cause trouble. The person was like, "Well, no one else has corroborated your story, so..."

I don't know what else I can do, VPers. I tried, and now I feel like I have failed my nephew and it just makes me ill. I am already under so much stress from the whole thing, and then just to be told that there was no case basically because there were no marks or bruises just makes me feel awful. She won't get the help she needs, and my nephew still has to live with her...and...it's awful. I feel like I haven't made the slightest difference. 

Wow, I'm sorry...this kind of turned into a pity party for me, and I didn't mean it that way. I just feel so bad, and scared for my nephew. What more can I possibly do? There is no way on earth I will ever be allowed to see my nephew or niece again after this, so I've lost them...therefore I have lost my ability to protect them and nurture them. I am sad. 

Comments

[nightchild01.livejournal.com]

I hate to say it but I'm really not surprised at the result. You did what you could, you can at least tell yourself that. And what the other poster said about how if someone else makes an accusation against them it will be taken more seriously is also true. However, unfortunately, CPS can't really do much unless more than one person comes forward about child abuse accusations or there's serious injury or pictures/video of the abuse taking place.

You still did a good thing for your nephew.

[lurkerwisp.livejournal.com]

That's not entirely true. It really depends on the attitude of the social worker toward what the claimed abuse is, and I suspect the age of the child and relationship to the person making the claim.

All it took for my aunt to lose her adopted daughter was her evil ex-husband claiming in the divorce papers that she had shaken the baby. CPS came and took the child immediately, and though the claim was proven to be false she never saw the girl again.

[drownophelia.livejournal.com]

It also depends on the jurisdiction, and their present climate. If there's been a situation recently in the department where a family was investigated, the case was closed, and soon after a child is seriously injured or dies, then the department will often become very vigilant, and more like to remove children. If there has been a recent case where a family was investigated, and a child was removed and something happened to the child while in protective custody or foster care, they'll swing back towards keeping a child with its parents. It's frustrating, and its complicated.