Dear Lauren, thank you so much for your comment. It is always meaningful to me when readers share their experience or thoughts on a piece. I'm reflecting on what you've said and will respond in full a bit later. As a fellow survivor, I applaud and celebrate you. And I am glad we have survived, and live on to help others.
Mandated reporting is great in theory. As a victim/ survivor of domestic violence, it kept me from opening up to anyone who might make a report.
My concern was that if it was reported before I separated from my abuser, that it would increase the abuse and our abuser would make it harder to leave.
Another case is my friend’s kid’s school. They’ve seen countless families drop off kids that should be in booster or car seats that aren’t. On one hand, it’s likely the majority can’t afford them and are good parents otherwise but on the other is that it’s so incredibly dangerous for those kids every car ride. The teachers at the school don’t report it even though they’re supposed to. My friend wishes there was something she could do.
I wish mandated reporters were required to report suspicions of FALSE allegations of abuse. I was falsely accused by my ex after we filed for divorce. He lied to obtain an order of protection against me after I dropped our son off with him for his 3 nights of parenting time. The DCFS caseworker told me she knew my child hadn't been abused and my ex was lying. She did not report this observation. This would have saved my son from years of psychological abuse at the hands of his father. Parental Alienation is child abuse.
Dear Lauren, thank you so much for your comment. It is always meaningful to me when readers share their experience or thoughts on a piece. I'm reflecting on what you've said and will respond in full a bit later. As a fellow survivor, I applaud and celebrate you. And I am glad we have survived, and live on to help others.
Mandated reporting is great in theory. As a victim/ survivor of domestic violence, it kept me from opening up to anyone who might make a report.
My concern was that if it was reported before I separated from my abuser, that it would increase the abuse and our abuser would make it harder to leave.
Another case is my friend’s kid’s school. They’ve seen countless families drop off kids that should be in booster or car seats that aren’t. On one hand, it’s likely the majority can’t afford them and are good parents otherwise but on the other is that it’s so incredibly dangerous for those kids every car ride. The teachers at the school don’t report it even though they’re supposed to. My friend wishes there was something she could do.
I wish mandated reporters were required to report suspicions of FALSE allegations of abuse. I was falsely accused by my ex after we filed for divorce. He lied to obtain an order of protection against me after I dropped our son off with him for his 3 nights of parenting time. The DCFS caseworker told me she knew my child hadn't been abused and my ex was lying. She did not report this observation. This would have saved my son from years of psychological abuse at the hands of his father. Parental Alienation is child abuse.