Q: how much abuse does a child have to suffer to be taken from a parent?
My nephew and niece are in the care of their mother, my sister-in-law. My brother is an alcoholic that has almost entirely abandoned his kids minus the occasional phone call. He now lives out of state. My sister in law struggles deeply with mental health issues. She doesn't have a job, lives in section 8 housing, and gets government assistance. My brother offers no financial support. My sister-in-law loves the kids and does her best to provide and care for them. However, she's constantly flipping her lid and screaming at people - including the kids. She routinely talks about wanting to kill herself, and that the only reason she hasn't done it yet is for the kids. She's cut off access to the kids from everyone in our family, and we're the ones that provide them with clothes, toys, school supplies, etc. I'm sincerely concerned for their well-being and safety. She may not physically abuse them, but at what point does the mental abuse and inability to provide a safe environment matter?
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