Protecting Child From Abuse

Summary

If your child is facing abuse from a step-parent and the other parent is unresponsive, you can report to Child Protective Services, request a police welfare check, or seek an emergency protection order. Legal aid services like Mississippi Center for Legal Services and Southern Poverty Law Center can provide free assistance.

Full Conversation

I'm 15 year old daughter needs help her father has legal custody of her the stepmother is getting drunk and physically and mentally abusing her and her father does nothing about it what can I do to help my daughter
Hello ****, sorry to hear about your situation. Could you please tell me your location? Laws regarding child protection and custody differ from place to place.
Hinds co she lives in copiah co
Hello ****,
Based on your location in Hinds County and your daughter's in Copiah County, Mississippi, you can:
*. Report the abuse to Child Protective Services.
*. File for a modification of the custody order in court, alleging a change in circumstances that endangers the child's welfare.
*. Seek legal advice from a family law attorney.
Child protective services not going to help my daughter she's already told them about her father choking her picking her up off her feet by her neck and DHS told her that that was not abuse to go back home and behave
I'm sorry to hear about the situation. In Mississippi, choking is considered physical abuse. You could:
*. Report the incident again to Child Protective Services.
*. Request a welfare check from the local police.
*. Seek an emergency order of protection from a court.
Please consult with a legal professional about these options.
I am disabled I do not have the money for a lawyer and like I said nobody's helping her my daughter's even called the police and the police have not helped her either she has nowhere to turn her stepmother is a teacher so she can't go to any teachers or counselors at school because they go to the same school
I'm sorry to hear this, ****. In Mississippi, there are legal aid services available. You can contact Mississippi Center for Legal Services (*-*-*-*) or Southern Poverty Law Center (*-*-*). They can provide free legal assistance in child custody and abuse cases.
Thank you very much thank you for your time
You're welcome, ****. If you need any more help, please don't hesitate to ask. Remember, it's important to keep fighting for your daughter's safety. Best of luck.