|
my friend has been abused
Background information: I'm a junior in high school and I have a friend who is a freshman, so she is about 14 I'd say.
My friend's mom used to physically abuse her when she was younger. Slap her and what not. My friend claims she doesn't do this anymore..I'm a little skeptical. But, the mother still verbally abuses my friend...badly. I've seen what happens when they even fight on the phone...horrible.
My friend has been fighting me very had because I don't want her to be in that house under those circumstances because no child deserves to be abused in anyway, ever. I want to call social services or the police or something...but what do I say? Obviously, I've never been placed in this situation and I have no proof that the mother does it. I'm not sure that my friend would testify against her mother for what she has done.
So my question is, what can I do? There has to be something..
[ ]
Want to answer more questions in the Relationships category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Families?
i had the same situation and what i did was call a hotline. they will anonomysly go to the persons house and explore the house. I did this and the police talked to teh parents and said they can't tell them who called but they know whats going on . THen the police gave my friend numbers if shes ever in the situation again. hot number--1-800-422-4453
o and all you have to say is "hi i have a freind thats mom used to abuse her and im skepitical its happening again. " then they will ask you a few questions and just answer honestly. :]
hope shes okay!!
]
Tricky situation.
The really tricky part about it is that you can't help a girl that doesn't want help. I could tell you to go see the school counselor and tell them what you know, and they would then call in the girl to see what she says and from there possibly call the police and social services. If your friend doesn't want to go through that (and I don't blame her for not wanting to) then she's going to be pissed at you.
I grew up Southern, and if it were in that area I would tell you to keep your mouth shut. I live in a regular city now and I still think you should let her figure it out herself. Tell her that you want to help her, but that there's nothing you can do if she doesn't want the help, which is true.
I know that my and my dad got into it, really bad. I didn't get anyone's help. Things panned out okay for us. I know that isn't typical of similar situations but, again, if she doesn't want the help, then you can't help her. That's all there is.
Throwing her life to Social Services when she doesn't want you to, or even if she does, is going to mean foster custody, followed by court work, followed by the fact she might not even get to go to her aunt's. I've seen it before, and it wasn't pretty. This is the sort of thing that the courts aren't good at fixing. Plus there's changing schools and the social security she feels right now.
It's something she has to think hard about, figure out what she would like to change and the smoothest way to change it. I know that sounds bad, but trust me that either way it's not going to be pretty.
]
More Questions: |