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In response to your recent coverage of Hall County DFCS, concerns are that children in Hall County are left without a social support network when parents with addictions neglect their own offspring. In reply to my letter of Feb. 18 to Judge Mary R. Carden, she offers good advice. Here are recommendations to school teachers and community witnesses of child abuse or neglect:
Any person who has personal knowledge of abuse or neglect or has information from a child that causes you to believe the child is being abused or neglected should report first to Department of Family & Children's Services. Whenever possible provide a written report in addition to a telephone call.
If DFCS does not take action, then any person can go to the Juvenile Court of Hall County directly and fill out a complaint form. If the allegations of abuse or neglect appear serious enough, the court may appoint an attorney to investigate the allegations and bring a deprivation case on behalf of the child in this court. The court is more likely to take action when a complaint is filed by a teacher, doctor or other professional who is not related to the child.
Write or call your legislators to let them know about these problems, so that our county DFCS office will not continue to lose employees. Currently there are seven case managers and supervisors with experience and another four new employees who have just come on staff in the last two to four weeks. Even counting those four new hires, staffing is only about 30 percent.
Marianne Scott
Gainesville