Small Child Seen Wandering Neighborhood Alone

[NYI310]

My question involves child abuse or neglect in the State of: CA

Okay, I don't really know if this qualifies as neglect. I see it as more an issue of poor parenting, but am not really sure.

On Sunday (Mother's Day) I was visiting my mother, when a 5 year old child entered the home through an open garage door. She asked me if I had any candy. I told her no, and that she should never enter a stranger's home. Then using poor judgement, I sent her away. The child returned about 15 minutes later again asking if I had any candy for her. At this point I decided to walk her home. Turned out she lived down the street and around the corner.

Upon arrival, I observed her sister (11-13 yo) hanging out on the front porch. Her grandmother eventually came out. I told her what happened and she was horrified and embarassed. Considering the circumstance, I understood her reaction.

To my dismay, when I went back to my mother's house yesterday, I again saw this same 5 year old wandering around. The child was clothed, her hair was kept and she appeared to be fed properly. I don't think they are neglecting this child, only failing to properly supervise her.

I don't know what, if anything, I should do about this. It makes me sick to think of what could happen to this child. My mom's neighborhood it not the best. There is a meth dealer next door and a pot dealer across the street. Though I'm confident the dealers would never hurt the child, I'm not so confident about their clients. Not to mention the obvious dangers should she step foot of the curb. I haven't even checked the Megan's Law registry for my mom's neighborhood.

I'm visiting my mother again this afternoon and am hoping not to see this child. It bothers me to think that if something were to happen to her, I could have done something to try to prevent it.

[aardvarc]

When you see a young child wandering the neighborhood alone, you call the police. 911 works just fine. Let THEM return the child and give, at the very least, a documented warning about proper supervision of the child - this way if the situation repeats itself, there is official record/a history of the problem, allowing proper child protection authorities to act if needed. Apparently this 11-13 year old isn't responsible enough to supervise this child, and the child's parents/guardians either don't know it, or don't care. Either way, a wake up call is in order before this child becomes the victim of anything from a bus to a pedophile.

[NYI310]

Thanks for that. That was my thought as well. I thought at least if the cops return the child, they might give the parent/grandparent a stern talking too. And there'd be a record of the event, should something happened to the child, or the child is found wandering again.

I just didn't want the family to know where my parents live. I am a conflict avoider and hate confrontation.

[aardvarc]

If you should need to call, you don't have to initiate conflict or confrontation. Just tell the 911 operator that you're concerned for the safety of a small child apparently roaming the neighborhood alone and that you'd like to remain anonymous. It's a phone call that could come from anyone in the neighborhood, from the mailman, or from any random vehicle that just happened down the street and noticed the child. Allowing callers to remain anonymous so as not to put them in fear of reprisal is an important part of the 911 system.