I need help! My two cousins, 13 and 12, are being abused by their father and step-mother. The 13 yr old has run away several times and says she will continue to until she is out of the situation. We have contacted Social Services, the police in two different towns, and even the Governer of our state and everyone says that their hands are tied. I don't know where else to go from here!!

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2003

Answers

Forget social services, they are notoriously unreliable. A report has to be filed with the State Police. If nothing occurs from that, contact the State Ombudsmans with the Governors Office (not the Governor). They can help and suggest other resources as well as launch their own investigations. Most of all, keep filing complaints, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Good Luck

-- Anonymous, March 29, 2003

Have you tried getting help from their school? Maybe a teacher has noticed some things too and could help.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2003

When someone from the govener's office talked to the school they denyed anything being wrong. I suppose that they did not want to get into trouble. The girl has ran away again and now is with her mother (thank the lord), but now she needs to get custody changed. The boy is still in the situation. Thank You for your responses. I will squeek until I turn blue.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2003