Expert: Elizabeth Rose, MSW - 8/5/2009

Question
Hello. So in order for you to really answer I need to give you some background information. I have a beautiful 9.5 month old daughter. She is a happy, heralthy little baby and my husband and I are very blessed to have her. A couple of weeks ago, I got a call from the local sheriff's dept. Explaining that someone had called them and social services requesting a well-baby check. The caller (a relative of mine who hasn't seen our child for months) said that our house and child were filthy, the baby was always injured or sick, that we didn't provide needed medical care for the child, that the mother of the child had mental health issues and was a pathological liar who went to the emergency room as "attention seeking behavior" and was obsessed with the ER and medical things (mother of child works in healthcare)and that the father was an alcoholic who drove drunk, couldn't hold a job and had a history of eviction. In the interest of full disclosure, mom did miss one baby check (3 month ago) but all other allegations are absolutely false. A social worker came by today and looked around our house, proclaiming it "clean, if a little cluttered." She said that what clutter there was wasn't a problem and that everything seemed just fine. My questions to you are these... 1) do I have anything to be worried about, as far as CPS removing my child etc. 2) is there any legal recourse against someone filing a false child abuse/neglect report? 3) due to the nature and vehemence of my family memember's claims, do I have grounds for a restraining order to keep her away from myself and my child? (Family member also tole Human Svcs that "if (minor child) were a dog, I would steal her" I am afraid that she will tey to illegally take my baby from me) please answer as soon as possible, I am so lost and worried,
Thank you for your time,
B

Answer
I am sure this is all very disturbing to you but remember,you heard the protective services people say "She said that what clutter there was wasn't a problem and that everything seemed just fine."

You have a couple of courses of action. One is to just wait and see if this is an isolated incident with no further follow up from your relative. And two, you can call the protective services worker back and ask them if you have any recourse.

Sometimes these things are best handled by not responding and "laying low." Sometimes the false reporter is wanting to get a reaction out of you. Sometimes a reporter genuinely feels that things are amiss, according to their standards.

So hopefully, this will pass, and you can focus on your life, on being a good Mom and not having to worry about false reports.

Liz
http://socialworkworld.org