Hi,
i was recently evicted. I went to a shelter for families with my 2 sons who are under 4 and very active. In general, i use gentle discipine/consensual living approach with them. When you become homeless in this state you go to a central 'shelter' where they process your case which can take up to 12hours. There's no food, (some quasi junk food is on offer which is not adequate) or diversion for children. Though intended for children, this place is not at all child friendly. If you arrive after 5pm, you are bussed to a hotel where you spend the night, and then are woken at 6h30 am to be bussed back to the central location where you wait for up to 12hours. IN this time, you go from one appointment to the next, where you are required each time to exit the building in freezing winter weather, and then re enter at the other side. Did i mention this is for families, and there are many young children?
We arrived after 5 (had i been told, and was not, though i rang before hand to get information, i would have gotten there before 5 to avoid the over night hotel stay), and therefore were in this situation from 5pm until about the same time the following day.
During this time, i had the interveiw with the case worker. By this time, i was exhausted, sleep depirved and under fed, as were both my boys. They were doing the best they could, but were a little rowdy, and not easily 'controlled'.
During the interview, they were not behaving well, but were not damaging anything, or doing anything critical. The caseworker (who had completely control over where i would end up) told me 'Control you kids'.
I tried to do so kindly at first, using gentle words, diversion, and so on. Did i mention i was exhausted? I nursed younger one (during which time older one kept hitting his feet)
The man kept saying 'control your kids'.
They ran down the hallway, i asked the man to close the door, he said he couldnt. This went on for about 25mins.
Eventually i snapped, and shouted at my kids, 'Just do as your told, this man is telling us to do as we are told!!' My 4yo started crying.
In walked 3 people (i presume from the ACS since it was right next door)
The caseworker said, 'i am mandated to report you to the ACS'
"For what? ' I said,' You have never shouted at your kids? No parent has ever shouted at their kids?'
"Im mandated' he said.
So that is that.
This place is ACS trigger happy, and the slightest thing (co sleeping among them no doubt') and they report it to the ACS. I am currently in a shelter.
Please advise me how to protect myself, my legal rights.
I do not think shouting at your children under these circumstances warrants a call to the ACS. ( i am thinking of many previous threads on this issue here, and on one where the OP got a lawyer)
Tia
Maya
i was recently evicted. I went to a shelter for families with my 2 sons who are under 4 and very active. In general, i use gentle discipine/consensual living approach with them. When you become homeless in this state you go to a central 'shelter' where they process your case which can take up to 12hours. There's no food, (some quasi junk food is on offer which is not adequate) or diversion for children. Though intended for children, this place is not at all child friendly. If you arrive after 5pm, you are bussed to a hotel where you spend the night, and then are woken at 6h30 am to be bussed back to the central location where you wait for up to 12hours. IN this time, you go from one appointment to the next, where you are required each time to exit the building in freezing winter weather, and then re enter at the other side. Did i mention this is for families, and there are many young children?
We arrived after 5 (had i been told, and was not, though i rang before hand to get information, i would have gotten there before 5 to avoid the over night hotel stay), and therefore were in this situation from 5pm until about the same time the following day.
During this time, i had the interveiw with the case worker. By this time, i was exhausted, sleep depirved and under fed, as were both my boys. They were doing the best they could, but were a little rowdy, and not easily 'controlled'.
During the interview, they were not behaving well, but were not damaging anything, or doing anything critical. The caseworker (who had completely control over where i would end up) told me 'Control you kids'.
I tried to do so kindly at first, using gentle words, diversion, and so on. Did i mention i was exhausted? I nursed younger one (during which time older one kept hitting his feet)
The man kept saying 'control your kids'.
They ran down the hallway, i asked the man to close the door, he said he couldnt. This went on for about 25mins.
Eventually i snapped, and shouted at my kids, 'Just do as your told, this man is telling us to do as we are told!!' My 4yo started crying.
In walked 3 people (i presume from the ACS since it was right next door)
The caseworker said, 'i am mandated to report you to the ACS'
"For what? ' I said,' You have never shouted at your kids? No parent has ever shouted at their kids?'
"Im mandated' he said.
So that is that.
This place is ACS trigger happy, and the slightest thing (co sleeping among them no doubt') and they report it to the ACS. I am currently in a shelter.
Please advise me how to protect myself, my legal rights.
I do not think shouting at your children under these circumstances warrants a call to the ACS. ( i am thinking of many previous threads on this issue here, and on one where the OP got a lawyer)
Tia
Maya
What were you supposed to do? I think their behavior was outrageous. Are they there to help people or not? Geez. 
I hope he still did his job competently and got you into a decent shelter that is a safe place for you and your children.
that ACS was sensible enough to know it wasn't ACS worthy.
