ACS: Anonymous calling=social responsibility vs...

minding your own beeswax?

As many of you may be aware, in today's society any individual can literally pick up the phone and anonymously dial ACS (Administration for Children's Services) to report child abuse. However, upon doing this, in many situations, one always runs the risk of falsely accusing a parent/guardian of child abuse where there is none (and this has happened many times) and can subsequently wreak intense havoc on a family unit (i.e. children being removed from the home and placed in the system, parents being subject lengthy & harsh investigation/scrutiny, etc.)

In my opinion, I think that the 'system' actually does more harm than good and divides and conquers families for their own selfish bureaucratic needs, yet at the same time, I do see the need for an anonymous hotline as many times people on the outside (friends, neighbors, and sometimes even relatives) feel helpless as to how to help or step in when they are tue witnesses to child abuse. I personally have a better sense of comfort knowing that if a child living next door to me is being abused, I could pick up the phone and do something about it.

I debated this with a friend the other day and she believes that people should just mind their own business...I told her that it would weigh heavily on my conscience if I knew that I had could do something about it but didn't, and possibly be responsible for sending a child to their death. We debated for a while but one thing we did agree on in the end is that no matter which way you slice it, IT'S TRICKY.

That said, what are your thoughts? Would you make the call (or better yet answer the call) or mind your own business?

Is it "minding your own business" when you find out that you have successfully prevented a traumatized childhood or a battered wife situation from reaching the extreme? I think the benefits outweigh the possibility of being labeled that "nosey neighbor".

Posted by Scorporella
going to lose my child over some ridiculous accusation, but to be honest, I would rather have them check out a false accusation and find nothing, than to not check out an accusation and have a child being raped or beaten every night because someone didn't care enough to put in a call.

I was an abused child. People were aware of my abuse. No one ever stepped in. Years of trauma ensued, that could have been prevented if someone had cared enough to even make an anonymous call. I don't regret my past, in fact, my past showed me exactly how strong I am, what I contain, how resilient I am. But it doesn't take away the pain and torment that was experienced at that time. For every false call, for ever accurate call, made to CPS or ACS, there are several that aren't made that should have been.

If a parent has a call made on them that is false, they know the truth of the situation, they know they are innocent, and so does the child. Forensic interviewing has come a long way when it involves uncovering the truth with a child that may or may not have been abused. I did an internship with a children's advocacy group in which they would do forensic interviewing for the court systems in cases of accused abuse. There were situations in which you could see the accusation was accurate, and there were situations in which the interview would reveal no abuse. It goes both ways.

Thank you for your story and I'm happy to hear that everything worked out fine in the end with your son. I think it's extremely sad when people take advantage of the fact that they can use the system just to be spiteful toward others. I know someone who just found out that her boyfriend of many years has been cheating on her with a younger woman who has two kids and she has vowed to get revenge by having a cousin

Continued from above...(sorry, I don't know what the hell is going on with dxp right now)

who works in the system place a false call to ACS. *shakes head* just wrong on so many levels. Myself and many others tried to talk her off the ledge many times but she's not budging.

I'm sorry to hear about the abuse you experienced but you are a testament to the fact that children are resilient and when given the opportunity to thrive and heal, they will. I would never dream of keeping shut if there was a child in need and I knew that I could do something to help and I have to admit that for as fucked up as the system can be, it does serve some good purposes.