Public Service Announcement

This morning I got a call from some foster parents that I worked with last year. They called with concerns about their extended family. Apparently the 12-year-old female has been having sex with various boys in the neighborhood, including her younger brother. Finally the brother started saying "no" which triggered physical fights between the two of them. Both parents and both kids are both cognitively impaired.

The foster parents' question to me was, "What should we do?" The answer is obvious to me as a social worker, but maybe it's not that clear to the public. So here's a little quiz for you. Would you...
a. Try to give the family advice first. If they don't take the advice, then you should worry.
b. Call the police.
c. Call DCFS.
d. Do nothing -- it's their family's personal business.

And the correct answer is...C! These foster parents knew in their hearts they should call, but they were worried that it might not be true, or that the family would get in trouble, or that the family would find out who turned them in and retaliate, etc, etc, etc.

Let's consider what might happen if they did NOT call...
1. The kids could keep having sex with each other forever, leading to incestuous, even lower-functioning offspring.
2. The kids could end up emotionally scarred, angry, violent, suicidal, and overall a risk to the community and themselves. Think Mackenzie Phillips.
3. Flowers in the Attic. That's all I have to say.

versus if they DID call...
1. Maybe the report is false. Then DCFS will close the case "unsupported" after a thorough investigation and go on their merry way.
2. The family probably wouldn't even know who reported it because all referents are kept confidential. Even if they did assume who made the report, they might be mad for a while, but at least they would get the help they need.
3. The kids could end up in foster care or a treatment center for a while, but they would be SAFE and they would get HELP so they could go back home.

You many not know this, but Utah law requires ANY PERSON who is aware of abuse or neglect to report it. That means if you don't call, you are breaking the law and could be charged with a class B misdemeanor! And you are harming children! So if you have reason to believe that a child has been subjected to abuse or neglect, or if you have observed a child being subjected to conditions or circumstances that would reasonably result in abuse or neglect, you shall IMMEDIATELY notify a peace officer, a law enforcement agency, or the Division of Child and Family Services!

(800) 678-9399