If I were king of the forest:
1. there would be more 'how to keep others safe when you're drinking or high' education
2. there would be more 'this doesn't qualify for CPS involvement but here is what you might want to try" education for parents/kids (because CPS seems pretty binary - there's a case and they get involved, or no case and you just deal with it)
3. there would be more 'how to be a trusted adult' education - like, what do you do when your kid tells you a serious concern about another kid;
and if friend kid is going through a rough time, how can be a supportive adult while keeping whatever a healthy boundary is
4.there would be more active 'i'm a parent and I don't know what to do' hotlines to people who know wtf they're talking about (we mostly ask our friends/the internet/own family)
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Ok, here's the deal. All adults in my state are technically "mandatory reporters" to cps (aka DCYF). I work for a school system so I'm extra mandatory.
But something that comes my way as a parent is tricky, because I viscerally remember point 2, and the situation at hand is something my daughter's friend is going through, and my daughter's friend isn't always accurate - like there are things she says that can't be true like 'i haven't slept in a year,' i had to explain to meg that can't be literally true and I read her the info about the Guinness world record of sleeplessness. However that doesn't mean EVERYTHING is false, but it's also hard to tell what's Gen Alpha exaggeration and dramatic 6th grader, v literally true.
"the pain is so bad I can't walk, i think i heard my hip pop when i fell" could mean...lots of things.
So then you have to do the Range - what is the minimal amount of truth in this, vs the maximum amount (No Cap). And also, what is the best and worst case outcome of saying something v not saying something. Definitely - if All True and Say Nothing = WORST CASE. If Not True and say something = bad, but not as bad.
That truthiness is the big factor in the 'parents not taking kid to hospital' issue. Anyway.
I think I know the Proper thing to do Do and will do that (requested a mtg with guidance).
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Meanwhile, I calmed myself down, I'm not 'holding' this in my heart and feeling heavy, so good job, me.
2. there would be more 'this doesn't qualify for CPS involvement but here is what you might want to try" education for parents/kids (because CPS seems pretty binary - there's a case and they get involved, or no case and you just deal with it)
3. there would be more 'how to be a trusted adult' education - like, what do you do when your kid tells you a serious concern about another kid;
and if friend kid is going through a rough time, how can be a supportive adult while keeping whatever a healthy boundary is
4.there would be more active 'i'm a parent and I don't know what to do' hotlines to people who know wtf they're talking about (we mostly ask our friends/the internet/own family)
---
Ok, here's the deal. All adults in my state are technically "mandatory reporters" to cps (aka DCYF). I work for a school system so I'm extra mandatory.
But something that comes my way as a parent is tricky, because I viscerally remember point 2, and the situation at hand is something my daughter's friend is going through, and my daughter's friend isn't always accurate - like there are things she says that can't be true like 'i haven't slept in a year,' i had to explain to meg that can't be literally true and I read her the info about the Guinness world record of sleeplessness. However that doesn't mean EVERYTHING is false, but it's also hard to tell what's Gen Alpha exaggeration and dramatic 6th grader, v literally true.
"the pain is so bad I can't walk, i think i heard my hip pop when i fell" could mean...lots of things.
So then you have to do the Range - what is the minimal amount of truth in this, vs the maximum amount (No Cap). And also, what is the best and worst case outcome of saying something v not saying something. Definitely - if All True and Say Nothing = WORST CASE. If Not True and say something = bad, but not as bad.
That truthiness is the big factor in the 'parents not taking kid to hospital' issue. Anyway.
I think I know the Proper thing to do Do and will do that (requested a mtg with guidance).
---
Meanwhile, I calmed myself down, I'm not 'holding' this in my heart and feeling heavy, so good job, me.