Unfit Mother

[lanenalinda123]

I'm just asking a few questions to get me going. I'll "go to the authorities & child services."
thanks all!

[watertest]

I think that everyone who posted needs to step back and think about this. This is a 16 yr old asking for help. The fact that the mother receives money for this child's care and does not spend it on that is wrong. You have a child asking for help and obviously no where to turn. It also seem's to me that there is more to this than she is saying. The child support is meant for the care of the child, not so the mom can take care of her bf. She is 16, isn't that old enough to emancipate? If she does than wouldn't the money go to her? I just think you all need remember you are replying to a 16 yr old that is asking for help. Give helpful suggestions, not nasty ones.

[LawResearcherMissy]

She is 16, isn't that old enough to emancipate?

Only if she's already working full time, paying 100% of all of her expenses, including market rate rent and utilities, food, medical expenses, school expenses. And she needs to be maintaining better than average grades in school.

If she does than wouldn't the money go to her?

No. The support would cease altogether. Emancipated minors support themselves, their parents no longer do.

Whether you like it or not, the legally correct answer is to call CPS. "Nasty"? No, baby. FACT.

[Dogmatique]

I think that everyone who posted needs to step back and think about this. This is a 16 yr old asking for help. The fact that the mother receives money for this child's care and does not spend it on that is wrong.

Legally, it's not. This child has a roof over her head - basically, Mom can spend that child support on Coach purses if she wishes.

LEGALLY.

You have a child asking for help and obviously no where to turn. It also seem's to me that there is more to this than she is saying. The child support is meant for the care of the child, not so the mom can take care of her bf. She is 16, isn't that old enough to emancipate? If she does than wouldn't the money go to her? I just think you all need remember you are replying to a 16 yr old that is asking for help. Give helpful suggestions, not nasty ones.

I think you need to understand that this is about legalities.

[cbg]

So you think we should tell her what she wants to hear even if it's not correct, just because she's 16?

[aardvarc]

You have a child asking for help and obviously no where to turn.

She HAS somewhere to turn, and we've all told her exactly who to call. If there's a situation of neglect, there is ONE and ONLY one entity that will lawfully be able to assist her, and that's who she's been referred to (or who any other third party, like a teacher, doctor, etc. would contact on her behalf).

[Kapwned]

If you have a family or adult who is willing to defend you and take you in, have them call CPS and file for custody of you. If there is no one, then go to your school counselor and tell them about your situation. Your school will then call CPS and a case will be opened on your mother.

If not, seek out help with the Job Corps. Don't they assist with emancipation as well? They will put you in a halfway home and you will not live as free of a life as you wish, but at least you will have your basic needs and a job. My friend went through this when she was your age. But judging by your over-all attitude towards the people here who have been posting, it is best you find a care-taker and wait until you're old enough to go out on your own.

But what everyone else is trying to say is that basically there is little YOU yourself can do and it doesn't work in the way that you might think. An adult has to speak for you and step forth when calling CPS. They will investigate your mom, and cort order her to get her act together or they will take you away and you may not have say on where you go since you are still a minor.

[Dogmatique]

Emancipation is not an option for this OP.