Do children in poverty even show up on the radar?

[Horse with no Name]

I have to ask this because I had a disturbing conversation with my daughter tonight.
She doesn't have children, so she isn't aware of what children need other than the basic things.
She was at a coworkers house who is very young (17) and has two children. One is age 2 and the other is 4 months.
She said the baby was screaming--and there wasn't anything for it to eat. The 2-year old was hungry and "someone there that was watching the child" said there was nothing for him to eat.
I was proud that my daughter did SOMETHING--recognized the need to eat--and went to the store and bought a few groceries.
They said the baby drank milk. Milk?
Like out-of-the-carton milk. Not formula.
That's what she bought and brought it back to the house.
Apparently, CPS has "intervened" several times...yet the mother is not on financial assistance, works at a fast food restaurant for less than minimum wage and is not on WIC. CPS has OTHER functions than taking away children. They are SUPPOSED to help with social issues and to help people become better parents.
Yet...these kids are still being "cared for" by a mother who is in some desperate need of educating her on how to take care of these kids.
I bought some groceries...mind you, they were prepared, quick to fix items but I felt that is all that will be used. Some canned pasta, mac and cheese, some canned veggies, cereal...things like that...and sent baby formula.
I told my daughter to deliver the message that it is okay to need help. It is not okay not to ask for it.
Told her the baby needed formula for brain development and that my house was open anytime they needed something.
I hope I didn't offend anyone...but these are definitely some folks that have fallen through the cracks.:(

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Did you hotline them?

I sure would. In fact, I am legally obligated. If I had first hand knowledge I would be making a call.

[Horse with no Name]

3. CPS was there this week--and has been there several times

That's what I don't understand.
No food in the house, baby drinking milk...no support system.
Red flags all over the place yet a whole lot of looking the other way.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Time to move on up the chain

Call the state office instead of the county.

[Horse with no Name]

In Texas it goes to an 800 number

that automatically refers to the county.
I've dealt with them working in our hospital--and I know the response really sucks.
I think it works differently in the larger counties.
We've begged for kids to be removed--only to have them sent home and then show up in the ER dead. On more than one occasion.
Tomorrow I can make some calls to some contacts directly...but I am appalled that this kid hasn't got the help and resources she needs to raise these kids AFTER these social service consults.
The groceries and formula were stop-gap at best...but it is all I could accomplish tonight.

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. We've called the state directly several times.

And that seems to work.

Bless you for helping them. I was involved with a similar family recently. No easy answers.

[gmoney]

2. shouldn't she still be nursing at 4 months?

[Horse with no Name]

4. Not everyone can/will breastfeed

But...she should be getting formula at the very least.

[seabeyond]

6. this is a 17 yr old mother with two babies, YES, in texas there are places to go

i dont know them all. i have never used. but there is absolutely a wick program and food stamps. other things too. my young niece has perfected using them all, while getting child support from one father and married to a man making $10./40 wk.

[sandnsea]

7. This is neglect, not poverty

The resources are all over the place to help her, you listed WIC yourself so you know they're there. Plus food stamps, the food bank, whatever local resources your area might have. It's not a matter of child poverty not being on the radar. Adults somewhere along the line have to take responsibility for the children. The choice is remove the children from the home, (even though they don't appear to be in life-threatening danger), or hope they can work with the young mom and get her on the right track.

But it's good you are now in the picture because maybe you can do some "dropping in" and if the situation stays the same, raise holy hell with your local CPS.

I've always thought every CPS needs a parental board to select random cases for review and try to catch the ones who are falling through the cracks.

[Horse with no Name]

10. Agree a little--on technicality but disagree that poverty isn't an issue

The kid is 17. Apparently she lived with her mom in the metroplex when she had the first child so I am assuming that Mom cared for the first child as an infant since it appears she was 14 or 15 when she had the first one. Kicked her out when she got pregnant again and she ended up out in East Texas.
I haven't spoken with her--but she isn't on WIC, Food Stamps, etc. She works 40+ a week and my daughter says she is a dependable employee. House is clean but there obviously isn't any money or support system intact.
She may not be aware of the help that is out there.
I'd say ignorance may be playing a large part in this.
I will drop by and see what I can do to ease her burden a little--but CPS should have initiated some help for this kid.

[sandnsea]

13. The help is there

If the house is clean, she's working 40 hours, there's no signs of abuse, it's possible CPS didn't even think they needed to worry about such a basic thing as searching cupboards for food. If she's got child care assistance, they do a physical check for abuse, every single day. CPS doesn't hand-walk you to the various appointments needed to get assistance though. I would bet she doesn't have time to make all the appointments or she'll lose her job. They apparently make you sit through nutrition classes every month for WIC, and I have no idea what they make you do for food stamps anymore. Not to mention the posts about how backed up the agencies are. How long has she been in your area?

Lots of things could be the problem. The problem - is not - that there is no attention to child poverty. As I'm sure you know, wrong diagnosis, wrong solution.

It doesn't even appear to be neglect. Maybe somebody should just take her a bunch of brochures and ask her if she needs help applying for the programs, or someone to watch the kids while she does it.

[My Good Babushka]

16. There are a lot of time consuming hoops to jump through

to get public assistance. She probably can't take the time off work to attend the WIC classes. It makes me sick that an employer won't pay enough to meet a family's basic needs and they won't tolerate an employee missing work to get public assistance, either.

[Hannah Bell]

8. can you help her set up an appointment for wic? that would get her formula.

and generally, someone more helpful than cps to talk with.

[Horse with no Name]

11. Yep. Plan on doing that tomorrow.

I'm just shellshocked that this situation exists.

[Hannah Bell]

12. hopefully, you've started the process of turning it around.

[old mark]

14. Our local and county social services don't seem to get involved much either...

we know of several places nearby where chilldren are mistreated, and that social services are very aware of yet nothing is done. I suspect in one case the mom in question is supplying drugs to the social worker and in another case the mom in question is supplying sex to the cops.

Both moms are heavy drug users with involvement in other criminal activity, buth ARE known to law enforcement and nothing is done. One neighbor who tried to force the issue was SUED by one of the moms, and had to move out of the area. They have dope money and money for lawyers but not for their kids.


mark

[EFerrari]

15. Bless you, HWNN.

:hug: