11-22-2008, 07:14 PM
swampy wrote:
AD.. I think you are right. I recently read of a single mom with a bi-polar, drug abusing son who was physically abusing her and his siblings (set his sister's hair on fire while she was sleeping). She had tried every avenue but the legal, medical and judicial bureaucracies gave her no help. She had taken restraining orders, but if she called the cops for help, they'd tell her the kid was a minor and not much they could do... yadda yadda.
Had a sister in much the same situation. The nearest psychiatrice care facility for minors is 80 miles away. The county has an arrangement with them to take their cases, but there is a 3 patient limit. The fourth child goes without care until there is a vacancy. Stand in line, wait your turn and hope that the kid doesn't kill someone or himself in the mean time. It took my sister almost two years fighting the legal system and child welfare case workers, but she finally was able to get Jason declared an adult (at age 16.8) so that he would be eligible for adult care. Again, single mom, 3 kids, school teacher who's insurance didn't cover mental illness. Typical story.
I can see how parents can become desperate enough to drop kids off. For most it's probably a last resort.
Thank you Swampy, I think we've found the Poster Child for universal health care.