It just breaks my heart
Recently there have been a few incidents in the news and in my local community that have really upset me. In all three incidents a child was harmed or killed as a result of a family member’s use of drugs and/or alcohol. Now, I know tragedies like these happen every day all over the world, but I just can’t help but be deeply saddened and a little disturbed that it is making the local news.
In the first incident, the middle school aged daughter tried to escape from her father’s moving vehicle because he picked her up from school drunk. He ended up crashing the vehicle and was apprehended by the police, but how terrifying for a child to have to deal with this.
In the second incident (which happened in my community), a 13 year old girl was shot and killed by her own father after she confronted him about his drug use. Neighbors were interviewed and social services had been called on more than one occasion, but the father retained custody and it cost a precious child her life.
On tonight’s news they reported an incident that happened at a house that I pass every day on the way to my children’s school. Every day. The house is very old and run down. There is trash and old stuff in the yard. Apparently a 16 year old boy - high on marijuana - killed his 22 year old sister and harmed the 2 year old child she was babysitting. Now I have seen this girl talking on the phone in the yard many times. I have seen the parents sitting out in the yard on a hot summer day. And I can’t tell you how many times I have asked my friends and husband what could be done to help the family.
What is this world coming to? What can we do as a community to provide a safe haven for children who have no other choice but to live with a parent who abuses alcohol and/or drugs? What can we do to reach out to these families who are so far off society’s radar?
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POSTED IN: Drugs and Alcohol
3 opinions for It just breaks my heart
Gayle
Sep 6, 2007 at 2:47 am
These things make me so sad-and angry. Sometimes the regulations social services workers must deal with leave them helpless. As a former worker, I’ve been there. Personally, I think we need a complete overhaul of the system. There are too many things standing in the way of protecting children.
Jennifer
Sep 6, 2007 at 7:36 pm
Before I started writing full-time I was a social worker with homeless youth and it was my most favorite out of home job ever. But sad.. really sad. I actually quit when my first (and favorite) client ever was murdered after she got off the streets and into an apartment and had a great job. That about killed me. I think the best thing we can do is slowly reclaim our communities.
Start a neighborhood garden or clean-up. I volunteered in different states with Big Sisters and other mentoring programs and it’s not a lot but what if my little eventually helps another and that person does; it’s a cycle. There are boys on the Big Brother waiting list who wait up to 7 years for a mentor and it’s so depressing.
I think the media could help with this a lot but instead we focus on who is wearing what and the latest trends (which I do believe have their place but after helping others).
The biggest thing we could do as a social system is believe a child when they tell us something. I’ve seen social workers disbelieve homeless youth because it is easier to believe the world is all jolly all the time and that is not ok. But it’s a huge problem and small steps leading to larger change is all we can do I guess.
June
Sep 17, 2007 at 8:27 am
these things are so sad!
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