This is a question for a member of my family. Long story, so be prepared :/ My dad & his ex gf has a 4 year old daughter together. She was part of the national guard when they met and maybe 6 months after she had my half sister she got deployed to Iraq. When she got back she had the post traumatic syndrome and she is supposed to be on meds for it. But she never took them...she ended up getting discharged from the guard about a year ago. Ever since, she has been popping other pills, drinking, and living in a 2 bedroom house with NINE people living in there. Recently, she went crazy at my dad's house (because of pills) at 1 am and ended up tearing the door off of the hinges, breaking bottles, yelling, and waking up my little sister and dragging her out of the house. The cops showed up and did absolutely NOTHING...that is White County police for you I guess. My dad finally was able to talk to her without her screaming and hanging up on him today and she agreed that he could have my little sister for the weekend. He says he cant do anything without the authorities taking her in for something crazy. But what if they dont even do anything.. I mean she cussed the cop out. Really?? Yess really. Does anyone work for the child services or know anyone that does that I can get some advice on what to do to get my dad full custody? Im so scared that my baby sister is going to seriously get her because of the crazy.,..... she calls her mommy. And I am an army wife on the other side of the world helpless to save her from anything. Any advice would be great along with some BIG prayers. Thank you!
Before I toss in my 2 cents... a question:
How much of this is first hand/ you witnessing... and how much of this is the story your dad is telling you?
I don't know about custody laws but this occurred to me from your post: She's in a TWO bedroom house with NINE people living there? In many places this would violate local zoning laws for residential homes, especially if the nine people are unrelated to each other. That alone may be a way in to getting legal help for your dad and little sister. There could be some argument made that the child is in an inappropriate/unsafe/illegal environment because the home is overcrowded. I'd find out about local residential zoning laws as well as see if your dad can check into the backgrounds of these people. If any of them have criminal records it could also increase his chances of getting your sister away from there. These ideas could be moot, but might be worth pursuing if you get told there are no other legal avenues. I too would be very concerned about a child this young in a household with unrelated adults who were strangers to me. Please be sure to update us here. And yes, your dad needs a family law attorney immediately -- today -- to start finding out options.
I think your dad needs an attorney and he needs to file for full custody asap. Best to work through the legal system.
He could call CPS, but in all honesty the sibuation has to be pretty severe and directed TOWARDS the child to have her removed from the mother's home. I would strongly suggest that your father file a police report each and EVERY time there is an altercation (whether the police think it is necessary or not) and start the process to get custody of his child.
Start with the CPS call and then retain an attorney and gain custody! It's going to be a long, hard battle, but it will be worth it for them both in the end~
He can call child services and ask questions/ advice with out making a report. I have. They gave me great advice and steps to take for keeping my kids safe when my ex was being a stubborn bone head on a serious situation. I did not have to make a report, they did not have to come out.
What I would do it after she snaps and goes crazy, call the cops. Refuse to give the little girl to the mother, the cops CANNOT make him give the mom the little girl back. Do it after she snaps so it doesn't like he is just doing it when he has never done after she freaks out before. Take that police report and copies of all the other times the cops have had to be called out ( if there has been other times) and go to the courthouse and request for an emergency placement of the child and give copies of the police report, her living conditions and if he can has copies of her medical reports from when they were together. They can give emergency placement that is not permanent until the next court hearing where all the evidence can be shown.. and time to get all the evidence needed and then they will make thier final decision.
But do it legal and in the steps needed. Get an attorney now and fill them in on what is going on and why he wants it and then sit and wait until the perfect time ( when she snaps again) and then the ball is all ready in motion and it will be alot easier when the time comes.
You can always call and make a report to his local cps. You have to urge your father to do all he can to build his case, get reports, Dr's orders on her condition, witness statements, and he can press charges for damage she has done, such as vandalism to the house and such. He needs to start documenting everything, and to call the police anytime she gets out of hand.
I am so very sorry for the position you find yourself in...if you don't have any other relatives that you can speak with then you are going to have to make the call yourself to Child Protective Services, if you live in town walk there yourself in person & tell them your story...your father will get the opportunity to take your sister if CPS determines that your stepmother is not in condition to take proper care of your sister...once again I am so very sorry that the burden has been laid on your doorstep instead of the adults in your family...good for you for taking care for your little sister, you are a wonderful big brother...good luck & may the angels guide your way through this difficult process...Blessed Be, A.
He needs to get an Attorney and sue her for custody. Each and every "incident" also needs to be reported so that documentation will be readily available when they go to court.
He needs to get an attorney, and once he has your sister this weekend, file for emergency custody citing the mom's living conditions and the episode at 1am.
He can call 911 tell them his daughters mom isn't taking her meds and I'm almost positive they can arrest her and bring her in for a 48 hour psych evaluation against her will... Then it'll show the drugs she's been on, the meds she HASN'T been taking and that gives him everything he needs to get an emergency custody hearing.
CPS can intervene if a child is being physically abused or is being neglected (parents leave young child alone, don't provide food, don't send school aged child to school). If your father wants custody of the little girl, then what he needs is a family attorney and sue for custody. CPS cannot make permanent custody decisions. They do investigations and if they find a child in imminent danger, they place the child in foster care. Your father needs to WANT full custody and he needs to meet with an attorney. If the goal is for the child to live with him, then you don't really play into the equation from a legal standpoint.
