Reporting Possible Child Abuse to CPS?

I am not a mother but am concerned about someone in my community that could be possible abuse or neglect...

I went ahead and request for an investigation on a mother who:

Is intellectually disabled (learning issue).

Both children also have learning disabilities.

Mother has stated to me that she hates her son.

Son is 16 years old and is in the special education program at school.

Son has broken phones, computers, cut cords on appliances when angry.

Son behaves well in school, actually met with their teachers and the teachers love the son.

Son needs glasses but mother has stated that he always breaks his glasses and will not replace them anymore because of that.

Mother and children state that the mother's ex boyfriend is still living with the family even though family has said that he is no longer welcome and has been asked to leave. The ex boyfriend will not leave (is not on the lease, doesn't pay rent, is unemployed).

No member of the family has health insurance. Mother claims that she cannot get health insurance because they have pre-existing medical conditions (the learning disabilities).

Mother has put the cable service in the son's name as she cannot get service due to her poor credit.

Mother had a pitbull that attacked son, son had to get 8 stitches...took son to hospital and got him treated but told son repeatedly that "the injuries were not that bad". Told son that it was his fault that the dog was taken away and put to sleep.

Mom states there are many fights (mostly verbal) at the home.

Mom states that she doesn't know where to go for help. I have given her referrals for sliding scale counseling, places to apply for health insurance and she doesn't follow through and states they can't help her.

I reported all this to CPS. Now I fear that the mother will do something to retaliate if CPS determines that this case needs to be investigated.

I have since learned that there are a lot of parents that fear CPS. They say that CPS takes their children "for no reason". I haven't heard of this before.

Did I do the right thing?

How do I protect myself if the mother decides to come after me if CPS investigates? I know I should have thought of this before, but was just concerned about the family.

Feedback anyone?

yes, lots of parents do fear cps.....cause cps does have the power to take the children away.....but they cannot do it for no reason...parents who say that are ones that minimize their issues because they dont want to take responsibilities for their actions....while cps can immediately take your child away, they have to go to court and demonstrate to a judge their reasons for doing so within a day or two. if the judge doesnt feel their reasons are valid, they have to return the children. the things you have listed do sound neglectful, whether it is enough to have the children taken away, i doubt it. in my area i think it would qualify as a differential response call. that is a lower level call where they send a worker out to assist mom in providing resources to address the stressors going on in life to address the different issues that necessitated the call. so counseling would be recommended, resources for insurance, all the things that you have been trying to assist her with. parenting classes would be recommended. i can imagine her frustration in buying her son glasses that he just breaks. there is a site online, zennioptical.com. they have glasses starting at 6.95. she wouldnt be investing too much to lose buying them there. she can buy as many as she wanted for one low shipping cost of 4.95. so for the cost of replacing one pair she could get him six or seven. i am not praising cps though. i have seen them do some pretty jacked up stuff once they get kids. it is hard to get them back. she does not need to know it is you that called. you did what is right. the welfare of the children is always the first priority. even if you are unsure if it is abuse or neglect, cps will sort that out. you made a good decision. dont fret about it. take care.

Where I live the person who makes the call to CPS is not reported to the family. It is actually illegal for that name to be given out. I don't know if that is the same, but I wouldn't be surprised. I agree with kalopie. They probably wouldn't take the children if they were not in imminent danger. They would instead put in supports to help the mom get connected to the resources they are needing.

CPS cannot tell the family who reported them. it's none of their business anyway. and yes, you did the right thing. i was taken by CPS on numerous occasions as a child. although at first i was pissed off, it turned out to be better than the situation i was in. except, i feel like my psychosis got worse in group homes. although, i don't think i was going crazy. i know what i saw. i know what i experienced. i was even on medication at the time. this is another reason why i will not take medication anymore. anyway, i think you did the right thing.

I know from working with CPS that names of reporters are never shared for protective reasons. If you reported following your gut, you did the right thing. Most people let it go and try not to get involved which can end badly for the child.

Same here. I had CPS called on me when I was divorcing my H (I think it was by either my H or his mom). CPS did not disclose who had called them though.