A serious situation about neglected kids?

[raleah]

I have a friend who has a serious issue on her hands. A few years ago, she divorced, and left with her kids, she didn't care about money or possessions, just her children. she went to her moms but the situation there was not good, so she moved abruptly out of state. This enraged the ex, who then told her he had a court order to take the kids. *this was not true* my friend was heartbroken, but looked at facts, she was broke, starving, and didn't have a stable home for her children, the ex did... So for the good of her children she handed them over to him. With no money, and no time to jump threw all the hoops legal aid put up, she could not get a lawyer in time to contest the divorce custody proceeding. Now four years later, and tremendous hard work on her part, she has a home, job, and has built a life out of nothing. Her ex has fought her tooth and nail on seeing her kids, nixed every plan to see them for years. She was reduced to phone calls, and a few sporadic pictures sent here and there. Finally this summer she got to see them, and got some chilling news... The childrens step brother was accused of molesting their step sister. That combined with the foul state of the childrens clothes and bedding she saw when they came to visit *blankets smelling of urine, underwear with feces in them* and the general behavior of the kids *they went from happy and content, to violent...lashing out, cursing, being cruel and unruly* it has her seriously worried if they should go back to the ex *who is currently under investigation for the step sibling molestation issue previously mentioned* should my friend offer her input to cps? Should she voice her concerns on the neglect she feels is taking place? Would cps even listen to a non custodial parent?

[gwen]

take pictures, take them to a doctor, get it all documented. call CPS and have them come talk to the kids. let CPS know it is her understanding there is already an ongoing investigation and to give the information she has as well. yes, CPS will listen to her. however, there are no guarantees they will act quickly (we reported that my SS told us he saw his mom's boyfriend stomp on his two year old in the stomach--two weeks later they called us saying, "no one answered the door." and they didn't pursue it any further).

she cannot simply keep the kids because she doesn't think they should go back, she will need to get an attorney and immediately file for temporary custody. given the circumstances, if she can prove she has a safe, stable home, that should be granted. from there, she will need to petition for permanent custody.

[winfrid12]

Abuse and neglect need to be reported and those children need to be removed from that home ASAP and put in therapy

[gideon]

RUN, DO NOT WALK to the nearest police station and report these people for child abuse.....

[chepito]

JUst tell her not to take the children back let them come to her and when they do they will see that she is a better person for the children. So clean them up and control their behavior take them to a doctor. If he is under investigation then call them and tell them the condition the children were in. Everthing ask them if they can help her get a restraining order on him.

[nissim42]

This situation has nothing to do with the police.
Your friend needs to go straight to a lawyer and ask for the rights to her children legally. She needs to app for full custody on the grounds that her x is not looking after the children properly.`This will be a long haul for your friend tell her not to tell the children anything until everything is settled . She may be able to call welfare and ask for advice . But i would be careful doing that as they can become a pest. If i was her i,d go through the court system.