child abuse

[jimbob21]

Ok what would one call child abuse. I have a friend who is 16 in a single parent home with her father and he hits her. He does verbally abuse her. He threatens her all the time. She has started having trouble in school from worrying about him. She is just wondering what can be done about it. He has already threatened her if she called the cops. She is wanting to move out and move in with her half brother till she is 18.

 

[justalayman]

describe what you mean by "hitting".

depending on the answer, it may be seen as abuse and likely is.

Depending on the threats, it may or may not be abuse. Threatening to ground a child for some action is not abuse. Threatening to kill the child is abuse.

have you called child protective services?

nobody is going to do anything unless it is reported to some authority.

 

[stealth2]

Ok what would one call child abuse. I have a friend who is 16 in a single parent home with her father and he hits her. He does verbally abuse her. He threatens her all the time. She has started having trouble in school from worrying about him. She is just wondering what can be done about it. He has already threatened her if she called the cops. She is wanting to move out and move in with her half brother till she is 18.

And there actually IS a reason why you're asked for the relevant state.

 

[jimbob21]

Well the one threats are to drag her hair out in public, stuff of that nature. As far as the hitting it is bad enough that it leaves marks. Most of the time it is severe slaping. And the state is TN

 

[CdwJava]

Ok what would one call child abuse. I have a friend who is 16 in a single parent home with her father and he hits her. He does verbally abuse her. He threatens her all the time. She has started having trouble in school from worrying about him. She is just wondering what can be done about it. He has already threatened her if she called the cops. She is wanting to move out and move in with her half brother till she is 18.

What state is this?

When you say he "hits" her, what do you mean? How often? Why? How?

If he pushes her back when she hits him, that's genrally acceptable ... if he smacks her across the face because she did not clean the dishes, that's generally not.

No, she will not get emancipated by reporting this. If she is being abused, she will go into foster care or be placed with other family. She will not get to move in with a friend, a boyfriend, a parent of a friend, or some adult friend.

If you want to help your friend, then maybe YOU can report the abuse to the proper authorities.

 

[justalayman]

so, who has already called the police or child protective services?

They don't have child abuse radar where it just shows up on some screen they can then investigate.

 

[CdwJava]

Well the one threats are to drag her hair out in public, stuff of that nature. As far as the hitting it is bad enough that it leaves marks. Most of the time it is severe slaping. And the state is TN

Then you need to contact the police or child services.

 

[jimbob21]

When she did call the police one time after it was really bad when she was 14 they wouldn't do anything and just left. Usually the hitting is for no reason. He just seems to take his anger out on her. The only family she has to go to and live with is her half brother. She's just trying to figure out how to do that.

 

[justalayman]

When she did call the police one time after it was really bad when she was 14 they wouldn't do anything and just left. Usually the hitting is for no reason. He just seems to take his anger out on her. The only family she has to go to and live with is her half brother. She's just trying to figure out how to do that.

by starting with child protective services

 

[stealth2]

She could also go talk to her school counselor. Or you could. Or a teacher. Or the principal. Or her doctor. Or her pastor.

 

[CdwJava]

When she did call the police one time after it was really bad when she was 14 they wouldn't do anything and just left. Usually the hitting is for no reason. He just seems to take his anger out on her. The only family she has to go to and live with is her half brother. She's just trying to figure out how to do that.

Until the state removes her from her father's care, anywhere she might go will have to be with her parent's approval. If dad is the sole parent, then he has to approve.

If the police did not do anything, then it is because no sign of criminal activity was present. CPS might be capable of doing a more in depth look at the problem whereas the police cannot or will not. So, call CPS.

In short, hand wringing will not get the job done. if she is being physically abused, then the authorities need to get involved. Of course, if this is all exaggerated or made up then she needs to just hold on until she is 18.

 

[Hot Topic]

What with all the threats and so forth, your friend doesn't seem to have any problems contacting you. Or does she just tell you during school hours?

 

[mistoffolees]

Until the state removes her from her father's care, anywhere she might go will have to be with her parent's approval. If dad is the sole parent, then he has to approve.

Absolutely wrong.

By law, she has to be in school. She can talk to a teacher or school counselor without Dad ever knowing or being able to stop it.

 

[CdwJava]

Absolutely wrong.

By law, she has to be in school. She can talk to a teacher or school counselor without Dad ever knowing or being able to stop it.

No, absolutely RIGHT. Please read what I wrote and what I was referring to. I never said that she did no have to go to school ... though dad could, in theory, home school her should he choose but that's not what we have been discussing here.

Note that I never said she could not talk to anyone else, only that she could not leave home without her parents' approval. Talking to a teacher or a counselor is NOT the same as leaving home.

If you contend that a child can leave home after they complain to a counselor or a teacher about alleged abuse, please cite the statute or case law that grants such authority.

Until the state removes dad's parental rights, he has pretty much the sole discretion on her living arrangements so long as she is a minor.