kids say Dad hits them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here again - Also, you'd be able to tell by their reaction to their dad coming home. Do they look scared? Do they run up to him with smiles?

Being a nanny you're very close to this family and unless you're completely clueless, you'd definitely would've picked up on something by now.

How the kids act when the father gets home is really no indication of whether or not he beats them. I mean maybe if he came home and hit them right away, but chances are they probably get swept up in the excitement of dad being home. What you should be looking at is are they afraid to ask him for stuff? If they are telling on the other child for doing something do they go to mom or dad? Do they seem nervous around their dad just when talking to him?

[Anonymous]

6:52, your first sentence is wrong, but your other advice is right. All observations are important to consider.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a mandated reporter, if you suspect abuse, you are required to report it.

Nannies are not mandated reporters and there is nothing to report. Before you go ripping a family apart, you'd better have some evidence.

[Anonymous]

pp here. I want to add that I do not agree with spanking, but if the kids are spanked that doesn't translate to abuse. Of course it hurts and they don't like it, you sort of set them up by asking that.

[Anonymous]

Nannies ARE mandated reporters.

But if you have no evidence of abuse or neglect you'll have to decide if you think it warrants a CPS visit.

The poster who wrote that is clearly ignorant on these matters given they reference tearing a family apart. CPS does not automatically yank a child out of the home for someone being concerned. They do multiple visits, assessments, interview family/caregivers/teachers as they feel is necessary and will provide education and support to the family if needed. A child is only removed if there is proof of abuse/neglect severe enough to warrant immediate removal AND if the child cannot be kept safe in the home environment. If there was substantiated abuse by one parent and not the other- if the parents agreed for the abusive parent to Not have access to the children outside of what CPS allows and move out during the investigation the children would still remain at home even if they were being beaten to bruises on a regular basis by the offending parent. The last thing CPS WANTS to do is remove a child. They make EVERY effort to not do so unless they feel the child cannot / would not be kept safe.

It's not always a perfect system, but I've worked as part of it and feel the fear and ignorance needs to end. The first goal is to make sure the child is safe, and then that the family has and utilizes the supports and resources they need. You'd be amazed at what it can take to get a child removed sometimes. Nothing in th OP indicates that anything other than talking to the family md providing education/support would happen. No removal of parents or children. It may very well be the help the whole family needs.

[Anonymous]

Provide a link/some proof of your claim that nannies are mandated reporters. They don't work for the state, in a school or doctors office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nannies ARE mandated reporters.

But if you have no evidence of abuse or neglect you'll have to decide if you think it warrants a CPS visit.

The poster who wrote that is clearly ignorant on these matters given they reference tearing a family apart. CPS does not automatically yank a child out of the home for someone being concerned. They do multiple visits, assessments, interview family/caregivers/teachers as they feel is necessary and will provide education and support to the family if needed. A child is only removed if there is proof of abuse/neglect severe enough to warrant immediate removal AND if the child cannot be kept safe in the home environment. If there was substantiated abuse by one parent and not the other- if the parents agreed for the abusive parent to Not have access to the children outside of what CPS allows and move out during the investigation the children would still remain at home even if they were being beaten to bruises on a regular basis by the offending parent. The last thing CPS WANTS to do is remove a child. They make EVERY effort to not do so unless they feel the child cannot / would not be kept safe.

It's not always a perfect system, but I've worked as part of it and feel the fear and ignorance needs to end. The first goal is to make sure the child is safe, and then that the family has and utilizes the supports and resources they need. You'd be amazed at what it can take to get a child removed sometimes. Nothing in th OP indicates that anything other than talking to the family md providing education/support would happen. No removal of parents or children. It may very well be the help the whole family needs.

This was my experience with CPS as a kid and thinking about it continues to make my blood boil today. All the investigation and efforts to "educate" my parents changed nothing. It only further enraged my father that we said anything, and the fact that nothing actually happened emboldened. Thanks a lot CPS!

[Anonymous]

I've never personally had experience with CPS but a close friend of mine went through hell because a vindictive person who didn't like her called in with a false claim and they came to investigate. They found no abuse, but a file had been opened so she could no longer work with children, had regular visits from the social workers (who would routinely take off the baby's diaper to check for bruises). Can you imagine? Having to stand by and allow a stranger to strip search your child? People suggest calling CPS way too quickly

[Anonymous]

Calling does not automatically mean children will be removed or that social worker will be assigned to the family to investigate. They may just file it away and if repeated calls are made then they will assign the case.

I've called CPS for a student of mine and no social worker has been assigned to the family. Calls have been made on her brother's behalf by his teachers as well.

So if you call and they don't assign the case but then a teacher of one of the children calls to report something as well eventually it may be investigated. Better safe then sorry. I would call.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:pp here. I want to add that I do not agree with spanking, but if the kids are spanked that doesn't translate to abuse. Of course it hurts and they don't like it, you sort of set them up by asking that.

Op here. It is not just spanking. They said he hits them elsewhere as well.

[Anonymous]

Cps can be paid off very easily. It's really sad especially if the dad has money or power.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cps can be paid off very easily. It's really sad especially if the dad has money or power.

What exactly are you talking about?

[Anonymous]

If you know a child is being abused and CPA gets involved but the dad has money or power. Nothing happens to the dad and the poor children still get abused. I hope that's not the case for OP

[Anonymous]

CPS* sorry

[Anonymous]

http://www.nanny.org/reporting-abuse

https://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/statutes/manda.pdf#Page=2&view=Fit