Would you call DCFS on this case?

DO NOT WAIT AND SEE.

This is the future we are talking about. People need to start taking a stand for children when the parents wont. Help this child out. He needs to be in a better enviorment.

Too many teachers just fly off the handle and call DCFS for no good reason at all -- and I mean NO good reason (especially when a Single Parent calls into question the actions of the instructor in the classroom).

Personally, I would let the Counselors work with the child since they already are working with them, and are in touch with the services better than you, an instructor would be.

what you need to know is this -- sometimes kids are in foster care BECAUSE they are assaulting their Parent(s), destroying Property (or damaging property), committing crimes, and basically out of control (through no fault of the parent -- even teens are beating disabled parents which is ABOMINABLE). These teens Do NOT deserve our sympathy -- nor do they need to be coddled by DCFS -- treat them as the Criminals they are and just do it!

You did not say what Mental Problems the kid has -- but I can tell you too (from the experience of raising TWO disabled children on my own with NO help), that my children had a difficult time with certain personal care routines -- and I, a responsible single parent (working, and provided everything to meet their needs and NEVER on welfare or in receipt of public aid) can say how CHALLENGING that is on a parent, and how little sleep I had over the MANY years of raising them solo.

so before you call DCFS -- think this way -- if just having him shower at the school, a bit of help with the food program (and that is not something to condemn the parent about), and some clothes from charity -- so what? Sometimes the parent only needs a helping hand.

I would be careful about saying Drugs, Mental Illness in the Mother, etc -- because UNTIL you can prove it directly (like the parent IS your patient or is smoking pot in front of you), this can be DEVASTATING and SERIOUSLY Embarrassing (at a minimum) and destroy the parent's reputation (most of the time it WILL -- even an Insinuation will FOREVER be hanging over their head). Do you have the Drug Test in front of you? Do you have the training to know when the Parent or other person is CLEARLY under the influence?

At LEAST you are thinking before acting -- that is GOOD and RARE in the teaching profession now.

I am not a big fan of the social services/ child protection system however as a teacher you are a mandated reporter. You must weigh both the legal and moral ramifications of calling or not. Generally, since they are already aware of the situation, I would suggest that you tell school officials about the pot and see what their response is before you call DCFS.

If you are concerned in any way--you are required by law to call--even if your principal or some other authority figure at your school tells you not to. A phone call to Child Protective Service or DCFS, whatever it's called in your area--doesn't necessarily mean they will pull the kid from the home or even investigate. That isn't your concern. We are trained in CA to call regardless---and let CPS decide on what to do after that. You have a legal responsibility to that child--and you could lose your teaching credential if at some point you suspected something was going on and didn't call.

It's a hard thing for sure--but it will ease your mind. Plus you are protected by anonymity.

There are worse things than foster care; particularly his current situation. I am a teacher; you MUST call. If something happens to him not only will you feel badly, but you can be held responsible.

I also am an adoptive mother of 4 from foster care. It is rough for my kids. They do not like that they are adopted. They do not however wish that they were still with their birth parents. They tell me all the time that they wish I had given birth to them; that way they would never had these types of problems and sadness.

Call. Do it now.

Yes, you need to call. As a teacher, I feel your pain, but you know deep down that you have to look at the long term welfare of your student.

Taking care of him for the 7 hours he is at school is great, but there are still a lot of hours where he's in a limbo. He needs consistent care, and he deserves to have it.

If something happened to him while he was wandering around avoinding the pot smoking, you'd never stop wondering what if you had called before.

You really do have to call. It's what's best for him in the long run.

I'll keep him in my thoughts, and I hope that everything works out for the best.

You could be in trouble for not reporting them. But I know there is just as much neglect and abuse with foster care as well. It is a fine line. I feel for you. But neglect is neglect. Is there any way you can talk with the Mom first and let her know of your concerns? Good luck. I am a nurse and I see some really bad home situations sometimes. It is hard to decided.

This sounds like a tough one, I'm not sure, but it's possible if you call DCFS they may be able to assess the situation and do some things for the family to help them out instead of taking the child away.

I think it's fair to call DCFS. That way, THEY can look into things and determine if some sort of intervention is necessary or if the family is just going through a rough patch and it isn't a danger to the child.

You don't want it hanging over your head if something truly bad were to happen, and it's better to be safe than sorry.

i know its hard you love this boy i can tell you care if you didnt you wouldnt be here asking this. the social workers know whats going on too so if you feel you should call then fine he wont blame you he doesnt have to know you called. But if this does happen why dont you become his foster parent. if you are going to involve yourself why not go in head first and be the one to really make sure he is in good hands otherwise when you stop seeing him youre going to worry and regret what you did