Hi :-) I’m back again … how does everyone who has contact with the Dept of Child Services, Investigation and Assessment branch cope? Do you find them helpful? Do they leave you feeling if they know how to do their jobs at all? I got a phone call yesterday to say my niece has disclosed to a youth worker allegations that a boy in her year level at school sexually assaulted her. While we are her legal guardians DoCS have custody of her until May 17th unless the order is extended. Instead of them calling the school to tell them I was told it was my place to do it … as she isn’t living with us I don’t know how she went at school today. However her return to school assessment meeting that was supposed to be in 4 weeks time is now first thing Monday morning. Her time at school is extremely restricted. She is not allowed at school for form class, lunch time, 4th period or after school. If the boy she has accused did what she has alleged then the school as well as the boy need to be held accountable. If it’s not then she needs to be held accountable for potentially ruining a young mans life. I have no idea when her escalation in behaviour is going to stop … if what she has said is untrue then I’m left wondering if on Monday they will ‘cancel her enrolment’ or in everyone’s normal terminology expel her.
Today we had our very first day of a course we are doing called Circle of Security. Our oldest child is 39, our youngest 22, the we have my niece who just turned 15. We have 7 altogether including my niece. Listening to the other parents share their experiences has brought home to us how unsafe my niece is to be around. Not just to us but the other people she comes in contact with. I found out today that the reason her co-tenant didn’t press charges when my niece assaulted her was because she was too scared to she was frightened about how my niece would retaliate 
Thank you Erin-RO sometimes it’s tricky figuring out the best way to word what to say 
We have a family therapist we’ve been talking to and we have been told we need to really wait until the meeting on Monday before doing anything more … there are times when keeping it inside my head is hard and there are very few people I can talk to about what is going on.
No worries at all @jdbza I totally understand that it can be hard to figure out what to say and that's why we're always here to help
That's great that you're engaging with a family therapist, I just wonder if seeing someone yourself, might give you the space to be able to focus on you and your self-care and to really be able to vent if you need?
You have so much to deal with @jdbza, that's awesome you see someone for yourself who's been able to teach you coping skills during such tough times. It really makes a difference.
The violence and poor behaviour isn't okay but I can understand that your niece must be so lost and her worth unknown to her after all she's been through. I also fully understand how difficult it is to raise a teen who is violent and I so admire your unconditional love and determination to show your niece she is loved and wanted.
Thinking of you 
