Re: My 9 year old patient was raped and required surgery Originally Posted by Karen1984 
I'm so proud and happy for you and the girl! You are lucky the state let you keep her being a single parent. Here in Tx it's extremely hard. My daughter's godmother's niece (whew-follow that connection) was abused by her mom's boyfriend and so the state wouldn't allow anyone in the family to take her.
I had to virtually fight to take her instead of her being placed in a overburdened house. The only objection they had, which they fought so hard over, was the fact that I'm a single, divorced mother. I got her and six months later she got to go back to her mother. But that's because Alina did what any mother would do-(she was in jail for the six months btw) she beat her boyfriend within an inch of his life while she waited for the cops to get there.
But I do have one piece of advice. Be very careful of the mother. Document everything that you can: how often she visits the father in jail, how she sticks up for him, ect. Some states hate to take away parental rights unless they have no choice.
Thank you, you are correct it can be very difficult for a single parent to become a foster parent. In my state there is such a shortage of therapuetic foster parents that if a single mom applies, goes through all the training and has the resources to support the kids then the state doesn't look down on you too much. They are just grateful to have someone who is willing and capable to take in these "special needs" kids. In this case with my pt. I think the fact that I do not have a grown male living in the home helped with getting her placed with me. I also have 2 other teenage girls who have come into my home since my pt. was placed with me. All 3 girls have been sexually abused to varying degrees. I think alot just depends on the state you live in and how much training you've gone through and the various needs of the kids they are trying to place. Thanks for the advice on documenting her mothers action i do have a composition book that I update everytime I learn of anything that is going on. The DHS caseworker is keeping track of her visits to the jail ect.. she (caseworker) is lobbying to get her rights taken because of this reason. She is not allowed visitation with her daughter at this point. And little one isn't expressing any desire to visit her either. We will just have to see what happens.
Re: My 9 year old patient was raped and required surgery
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