Q: I’m taking care of a 14 year old and her parents don’t know who she’s staying with. What should I do?
She says her father kicked her out of the house but I think she ran away. She says her father is physically and verbally abusive and doesn’t feed her. She says this is the third time he kicks her out of the house. Her father is looking for her and I don’t know what to do. How long is she able to stay with me? Will I get in trouble?
A:
You could get into trouble since you are not the guardian of this child. If the parents are verbally or physically abusing the child, she should report it to the police, but this may lead to juvenile detention. She could file a petition to be declared an emancipated minor. She should, at least, phone parents to let them know she is ok and not buried in a shallow grave somewhere, and set up a time for regular phone calls preferably from a public phone. Keep the calls short. Police report is the safest bet for you. You have put yourself in the middle of a dangerous situation.
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