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  1. #1

    Default Can a Teen Keep Their Parents from Knowing They Had a Baby

    My question involves juvenile law in the State of: California

    She is 16 years old and ran away from fostercare. She was placed with her mother (not by the court, by her social worker), and her mom became abusive so she left. She is now pregnant and will have the baby after she turns 17. My question is, can she stay with a friend until she has the baby, have the baby, and then find a way to tell her parents after the fact? She doesn't want her child to get hurt before it even gets a chance to breathe.

    Please explain the procedures after delivery regarding this issue, what to expect, etc.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    Default Re: Can a Teen Keep Their Parents from Knowing They Had a Baby

    Quote Quoting invaderandie
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    My question involves juvenile law in the State of: California

    She is 16 years old and ran away from fostercare. She was placed with her mother (not by the court, by her social worker), and her mom became abusive so she left. She is now pregnant and will have the baby after she turns 17. My question is, can she stay with a friend until she has the baby, have the baby, and then find a way to tell her parents after the fact? She doesn't want her child to get hurt before it even gets a chance to breathe.

    Please explain the procedures after delivery regarding this issue, what to expect, etc.
    The fact that she is underage will mean that medical practitioners may well be obligated to report her pregnancy to the police and CPS. She is a victim of - at least - unlawful sexual intercourse per PC 261.5 and possibly more. Whether she wants to be a victim is immaterial.

    Further, if she had been in Foster Care then that was a legal placement and that would make her a ward of the court. She will have to be returned to the social services agency having responsibility for her.

    Anyone concealing her from her parents or from social services, CPS, or the police faces jail or prison time.

    What makes her think that her child will get "hurt" before it is born? They can NOT force her to have an abortion, so that will not happen.

    She needs to return to foster care or contact her social worker. If you mistyped and she is NOT in actual "foster" care, then the same advice applies. Anyone concealing her from her parents or permitting her to remain as a runaway can be guilty of one or more criminal offenses. The proper thing to do would be to notify CPS or the police so that she can be properly placed. If she as, in fact, being physically abused, then the appropriate actions can be taken. However, I am going to guess that she took off because she did not like the rules at home, ran away, shacked up with her boyfriend and got knocked up. This is not going to end well for her and if she remains on the run and irresponsible she only increases the chances that the state may take her child from her when it is born.

    She needs to step up and contact the appropriate authorities ASAP.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
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    Default Re: Can a Teen Keep Their Parents from Knowing They Had a Baby

    That's a very serious and important point, OP - she could actually lose HER child to the State.

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