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Speak Up! - View Question #21484 |
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Question: My dad got arrested for hitting me repeatedly. When I talked to my caseworker the day after and I told her that I didn't want to go home she said that it was up to my dad and that he had put reports of me being incorrigible. The court told him that he was not to have any contact with me and he showed up at the place where I am staying and told me that I was to go home on Tuesday. How does this whole thing work out?
Answer: If there is an actual 'Case Worker' assigned to your case, he/she is probably from Child Protective Services and would have identified her/himself to you. If you are not sure, ask this person.
If the case worker is from Child Protective Services, then it is possible that a Dependancy Petition has been filed and only a juvenile court judge, assigned to the case, can order a change in your placement (where you are living) and other details necessary for your health and safety. For more information about the Juvenile Dependency Process, visit the Maricopa County Superior Court on-line.
If the case worker is from the County's Victim Services Office, then the judge in your father's criminal case can order no contact between your father and yourself.
If you need to talk to someone or have additional questions about this process, here are some resource numbers that may help:
Child Help USA Hotline
800-422-4453
Child Protective Services
888-SOS-CHILD or 888-767-2445
Children's Law Center (Arizona) - Volunteer lawyers are available to help kids with their legal issues. 602-258-3434 ext. 266.
National Crisis/Suicide Hotline - 800-999-9999
National Domestic Violence Hotline - 800-799-7233
National Substance Abuse Hotline - 800-378-4435 or 800-435-7111
Parents Anonymous of Arizona 24-Hour Family Lifeline - 800-352-0528
Teen Link (Various Topics) - 800-235-9678
Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) - 800-816-0491 or 800-865-4314
Youth Crisis Hotline - 800-448-4663
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