Girl, 12, pregnant after being allowed to live with boyfriend

[TitsMcGee]

A 12-YEAR-OLD girl who was allowed to live with her 15-year-old boyfriend is set to become one of Australia's youngest mothers.

The girl had been sharing a bed with the father of her baby from the age of 11, after her mother allowed him to move into their home despite her father's pleas to authorities.

When her father complained to staff at the NSW Department of Community Services helpline several times, they failed to do anything about the situation, The Daily Telegraph reports.

NSW Community Services Minister Linda Burney has admitted her department made "major mistakes".

"It's a disturbing case. It is true in my view that DoCS should have intervened more strenuously than what they did," she said.

Police said they were also unable to intervene because both children were under the age of consent. If the boy had been 18 or older, police would have immediately begun a criminal investigation.

When the girl's father had to take custody of her in March, he discovered his daughter was pregnant. He is outraged it took the shock news his child was to be a mother for government agencies to finally take notice.

The department admitted yesterday it had failed to act earlier because staff were working on more urgent cases. "My advice is there were some very severe neglect and abuse cases being dealt with at the time. But even given that I would acknowledge that DoCS could have done a lot more than what they've done in terms of this young woman," Ms Burney said.

Opposition community services spokeswoman Pru Goward said all DoCS had to do was call in outside help. "They just had to admit they couldn't cope," she said on Fairfax radio.

"I can be sure that the case worker that managed this was, like many other case workers that I have run into, supported by nobody. DoCS systematically fails children, they do not consult with families, they do not consult foster carers, they seem to have given up on teenage girls."

Catch-up

Staff from DoCS and the state departments of health and education are now clamouring to help the child, the father has told his local member, Dubbo MP Dawn Fardell.

"He came to me. The police said 'Our hands are tied'," Ms Fardell said yesterday. "The father said to me it looks like he and his partner will raise the baby. They are happy to do so.

"All the agencies have come in now, and there were different options for her. It is a child having a child. We need to surely look at what we can do. Someone needs to be accountable for this."

Senior police said because the children were both under the age of consent and the girl failed to make a complaint of sexual abuse when she was interviewed, they were unable to act.

Details of the girl's life emerged in the NSW Parliament earlier this month. Her mother was placed in a mental health unit in March and when her father took over his daughter's care and went to police to report the pregnancy, she ran away.

The girl has since returned to her father. Neither can be identified for legal reasons.

The girl will be offered continuing counselling, parenting advice and educational services. A plan is also in place for the care of the baby, expected later this year.

[Slogo]

It's still wrong but there's really not a whole lot that can be done about it.

[TitsMcGee]

It's still wrong but there's really not a whole lot that can be done about it.

I say they should punish the mother for being a complete dumb ass though. That would at least make me feel better about the whole situation.

[Slogo]

I say they should punish the mother for being a complete dumb ass though. That would at least make me feel better about the whole situation.

Though it may make you and I feel better, being a dumbass is not yet a crime. If they're both under A.O.C. then there isn't really anything that can be done.

[freydis]

*shudder*

[Destroit]

Though it may make you and I feel better, being a dumbass is not yet a crime. If they're both under A.O.C. then there isn't really anything that can be done.

Yeah, but child abuse is, and if you're letting your 12 year old live with a 15 year old boyfriend in the same bed in your own house, not obviously even providing them protection (which makes this whole thing double worse) then it is imo.

It could have been worse. How did that stupid bitch whore of a mom know that the boy didn't have something serious? Like, oh, I dunno...AIDS.

She should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

[Slogo]

Yeah, but child abuse is, and if you're letting your 12 year old live with a 15 year old boyfriend in the same bed in your own house, not obviously even providing them protection (which makes this whole thing double worse) then it is imo.

It could have been worse. How did that stupid bitch whore of a mom know that the boy didn't have something serious? Like, oh, I dunno...AIDS.

She should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

I'm not defending the mom in this. I think the mom has to be one of the biggest idiots on the planet to think she'd let her daughter sleep in the same bed as her boyfriend and nothing will come (no pun intended) of it, or she doesn't care if anything does . That being said, It is doubtful that any court would see this as child abuse even if we think she should be punished. In the eyes of the law (that's what I'm going by here) she would be innocent.

[Destroit]

I'm not defending the mom in this. I think the mom has to be one of the biggest idiots on the planet to think she'd let her daughter sleep in the same bed as her boyfriend and nothing will come (no pun intended) of it, or she doesn't care if anything does . That being said, It is doubtful that any court would see this as child abuse even if we think she should be punished. In the eyes of the law (that's what I'm going by here) she would be innocent.

Oh, I knew you weren't defending the mom, I was saying it's more of a crime than just being a dumbass though.

[Rev.Reverence]

I say they should punish the mother for being a complete dumb ass though. That would at least make me feel better about the whole situation.

Yeah, but child abuse is, and if you're letting your 12 year old live with a 15 year old boyfriend in the same bed in your own house, not obviously even providing them protection (which makes this whole thing double worse) then it is imo.

It could have been worse. How did that stupid bitch whore of a mom know that the boy didn't have something serious? Like, oh, I dunno...AIDS.

She should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

WOW, ya'll are a bit more intolerant than ussual...

...did you miss the part in the article where it said WHY the Father got custody of the 12 year old?

The Mother is in an institution.

Having an illness that impedes your judgment is NOT being a "Dumb Ass"...

Having a mental illness does not make someone a "stupid bitch whore of a mom"...

The LAW won't punish her...as she is already in a locked facility.

Probably...the 12 year old daughter was the one takin' care of the Mother, & even if some one is your child, when you have dementia...the person without dementia gets to be in charge...that's just how it works...

I must say though...congratulations on your new found levels of intolerance & judgmental-ism...

[TitsMcGee]

WOW, ya'll are a bit more intolerant than ussual...

...did you miss the part in the article where it said WHY the Father got custody of the 12 year old?

The Mother is in an institution.

Having an illness that impedes your judgment is NOT being a "Dumb Ass"...

Having a mental illness does not make someone a "stupid bitch whore of a mom"...

The LAW won't punish her...as she is already in a locked facility.

Probably...the 12 year old daughter was the one takin' care of the Mother, & even if some one is your child, when you have dementia...the person without dementia gets to be in charge...that's just how it works...

I must say though...congratulations on your new found levels of intolerance & judgmental-ism...

Rev I have a mental illness and I have been institutionalized, and I'm not stupid enough to let a 12 year old share a bed with her 15 year old boyfriend. I'm not being intolerent, I'm just sick of people producing kids they can't/won't take care of, and then those kids are having babies while they are still kids.

What the woman was doing was neglecting her child, which is a crime last time I checked. And just because she's mentally ill doesn't mean she shouldn't be punsihed. And where did you get dementia from? The article doesn't mention what the woman has.

Edited June 16, 2009 by TitsMcGee

[Slogo]

Rev I have a mental illness and I have been institutionalized, and I'm not stupid enough to let a 12 year old share a bed with her 15 year old boyfriend.....

.... And where did you get dementia from? The article doesn't mention what the woman has.

But it also doesn't mention how severe it could be. For all we know she may have truly believed it was fine due to her illness.

While I don't go as far as His Revness in saying you're intolerant, I do not believe she will be punished.

[TitsMcGee]

But it also doesn't mention how severe it could be. For all we know she may have truly believed it was fine due to her illness.

While I don't go as far as His Revness in saying you're intolerant, I do not believe she will be punished.

I don't believe they will punish her either because of her mental illness, but I do believe that she should be. People need to be held accountable for what they do, especially if they do something wrong.

[Homicidalheathen]

The saying comes to mind, old enough to bleed...old enough to breed...but is that what you want to do with your life? Breed?

[Rev.Reverence]

Rev I have a mental illness and I have been institutionalized, and I'm not stupid enough to let a 12 year old share a bed with her 15 year old boyfriend. I'm not being intolerent, I'm just sick of people producing kids they can't/won't take care of, and then those kids are having babies while they are still kids.

What the woman was doing was neglecting her child, which is a crime last time I checked. And just because she's mentally ill doesn't mean she shouldn't be punsihed. And where did you get dementia from? The article doesn't mention what the woman has.

ELEMENTARY DEDUCTION...

Dementia is not an illness in itself...use your reference materials before you refute my knowledge about mental illnesses..for you to compare your momentary break is an asinine futility.

Dementia is a non-specific illness syndrome (set of signs and symptoms) in which affected areas of cognition may be memory, attention, language, and problem solving.

...& I am not referring to depression (in other places, they don't even treat that, they just tell you to cheer up)...or even manic-depression...I'm talkin' about one of the schizoid-group of disorders. (REAL ILLNESSES)

......something that creates a BREAK WITH REALITY...a psychosis...so REAL fuckin' problems...& no help makes it worse..& worse..& worse...until to sit still & not tear your own face off, is the best that one can do.

I doubt you have any idea what I am talking about...or you would not be so intolerant in this matter.

But it also doesn't mention how severe it could be. For all we know she may have truly believed it was fine due to her illness.

While I don't go as far as His Revness in saying you're intolerant, I do not believe she will be punished.

She ain't gonna' be punished is right...she won't even know why she is bein' punished...she apparently did not know she was doin' anything wrong...

...AND...the police said there was NOTHING they could do about it..as, there is no law that was broken.

NOW...if T-McGee wants to up & move to Aussie & try changin' their laws up...you know what...they won't let her move there! THEY...like their laws as they are..as they intended.

Fuckin' cool assed honorific title *bows* & witty too...

[Rev.Reverence]

I don't believe they will punish her either because of her mental illness, but I do believe that she should be. People need to be held accountable for what they do, especially if they do something wrong.

1. No law was broken.
2. If there was something wrong, she did not know.
3. If you do not know why you are being punished, & don't know why, it is just suffering, as you learn nothing.

[TitsMcGee]

ELEMENTARY DEDUCTION...

Dementia is not an illness in itself...use your reference materials before you refute my knowledge about mental illnesses..for you to compare your momentary break is an asinine futility.

...& I am not referring to depression (in other places, they don't even treat that, they just tell you to cheer up)...or even manic-depression...I'm talkin' about one of the schizoid-group of disorders. (REAL ILLNESSES)

......something that creates a BREAK WITH REALITY...a psychosis...so REAL fuckin' problems...& no help makes it worse..& worse..& worse...until to sit still & not tear your own face off, is the best that one can do.

I doubt you have any idea what I am talking about...or you would not be so intolerant in this matter.

She ain't gonna' be punished is right...she won't even know why she is bein' punished...she apparently did not know she was doin' anything wrong...

...AND...the police said there was NOTHING they could do about it..as, there is no law that was broken.

NOW...if T-McGee wants to up & move to Aussie & try changin' their laws up...you know what...they won't let her move there! THEY...like their laws as they are..as they intended.

Fuckin' cool assed honorific title *bows* & witty too...

Rev please don't try to tell me what I do and do not know, beacuse you wouldn't have any idea since you really don't know me all that well.

[Slogo]

Can't we all just....get along

[Rev.Reverence]

Rev please don't try to tell me what I do and do not know, beacuse you wouldn't have any idea since you really don't know me all that well.

Dementia is a non-specific illness syndrome (set of signs and symptoms) in which affected areas of cognition may be memory, attention, language, and problem solving.

^^YOU DID NOT KNOW THAT!

I didn't try to tell you what you know & what you don't know...just what it is obvious that you did not know.

(via your prior statements)

I know these words, each & everyone.

You would refute me as incorrect? You would be wrong.

[Oh_My_Goth]

Why should parents be punished for kids being stupid.. I knew full well the consequences of sex when I was in grade school.. They obviously would have been having sex anyhow.

& Yes, it was irresponsible for the Mother to let the boy move in.. But she obviously rationalized it in her head somehow... & That shows the fact she has issues.. Big issues.

I do not believe that the Mother should be punished...

It's easy for us to sit back and point fingers & Make judgments when we have no real clue what is actually going on.

I'm sure everyone here at one point has had a situation where we could have been judged as being 'a bad person' for the decisions we made.

[Homicidalheathen]

Usually in this situation...the girl ends up with 4-5 kids by the time she is 21

She never does well in life, always stuggling

And has to depend on mom FOREVER

I think some moms encourage it to keep a hold on their kids...or too keep them bound...in some way.

[freydis]

Dementia is a non-specific illness syndrome (set of signs and symptoms) in which affected areas of cognition may be memory, attention, language, and problem solving.

^^YOU DID NOT KNOW THAT!

I didn't try to tell you what you know & what you don't know...just what it is obvious that you did not know.

(via your prior statements)

I know these words, each & everyone.

You would refute me as incorrect? You would be wrong.

If it were dementia, she wouldn't have been institutionalized, she'd be in an extended care facility. Dementia isn't usually treated as solely a mental health condition--more like a physical one.

More than likely, its something else.

Her being locked away in lieu of a punishment makes more sense--- often, people are not just institutionalized because they could hurt themselves, but because they could hurt *others*, which she obviously did. She will get treatment, and will *not* be released until she is no longer a harm to herself *or others*. Depending on what's wrong? That could be a LONG time. And institutions in some ways are just as bad as being imprisoned-- minus the UFIA. (Yes, a Fark reference. ) I know someone who simply spent a few days on the mental health wing of the hospital-- and was heartily glad to leave after all the screaming and distress of others she was subjected to....

[Rev.Reverence]

If it were dementia, she wouldn't have been institutionalized, she'd be in an extended care facility. Dementia isn't usually treated as solely a mental health condition--more like a physical one.

More than likely, its something else.

Her being locked away in lieu of a punishment makes more sense--- often, people are not just institutionalized because they could hurt themselves, but because they could hurt *others*, which she obviously did. She will get treatment, and will *not* be released until she is no longer a harm to herself *or others*. Depending on what's wrong? That could be a LONG time. And institutions in some ways are just as bad as being imprisoned-- minus the UFIA. (Yes, a Fark reference. ) I know someone who simply spent a few days on the mental health wing of the hospital-- and was heartily glad to leave after all the screaming and distress of others she was subjected to....

First off...any "extended care facility" is referred to as an "institution".

Second, this is simply incorrect...& wrong...go ask a Doctor.

NOW...since no one here...has been to "dementia" (a special lil' state of mind)...I'll let you in on some personal first hand knowledge...then, I have to be done arguing against this asininity for the now, I have shit to do...

You know, you can feel yourself slide into the state of dementia.

You know you are loosing it...if you have been in a hospital before, you know it is a cage..you don't want togo back...you try to hide the dementia, & hide from it...MANY peoples self treat their dementia with alcohol...it does not make it less, but it DOES give the appearance of alcoholism instead of some state of lunacy.

There is no need to lecture to I about these things, having graduated from High School whilst interned in a facility...I KNOW ABOUT THE CAGE.

...& I don't want to hear about, "MEh, I know what I'm talkin' about.." from no one (or their friends) that went to the hospital mental ward for three days, or even 3 weeks....I'll listen to the experiences of those whom have spent 3 months...but not really...that's just a season..some peoples go on Holiday for that long....

I LIVED THERE. 18 months sweethearts. No where to go to after I was "better"...Ward of the state...betrayed & abandoned by parents...too old for foster care...

Look at the homeless dude on the street...who would rather live under an underpass & be judged as a useless lump of flesh & a drunkard, or town idiot.....than togo back to the cage.

You see..my fucking point...from the beginning...is that because someone is sick, it does not mean they are stupid, imbeciles, or idiots...or even cruel.....WORDS..might I add...that peoples should look up before using them so fuckin' loosely....for to insult someone just because you do not understand them...is a fools errand...

...& Karma, IS a Bitch.

[Simon Bar Sinister]

look on the bright side - mom & child could party together at college.

[freydis]

First off...any "extended care facility" is referred to as an "institution".

Second, this is simply incorrect...& wrong...go ask a Doctor.

NOW...since no one here...has been to "dementia" (a special lil' state of mind)...I'll let you in on some personal first hand knowledge...then, I have to be done arguing against this asininity for the now, I have shit to do...

You know, you can feel yourself slide into the state of dementia.

You know you are loosing it...if you have been in a hospital before, you know it is a cage..you don't want togo back...you try to hide the dementia, & hide from it...MANY peoples self treat their dementia with alcohol...it does not make it less, but it DOES give the appearance of alcoholism instead of some state of lunacy.

There is no need to lecture to I about these things, having graduated from High School whilst interned in a facility...I KNOW ABOUT THE CAGE.

...& I don't want to hear about, "MEh, I know what I'm talkin' about.." from no one (or their friends) that went to the hospital mental ward for three days, or even 3 weeks....I'll listen to the experiences of those whom have spent 3 months...but not really...that's just a season..some peoples go on Holiday for that long....

I LIVED THERE. 18 months sweethearts. No where to go to after I was "better"...Ward of the state...betrayed & abandoned by parents...too old for foster care...

Look at the homeless dude on the street...who would rather live under an underpass & be judged as a useless lump of flesh & a drunkard, or town idiot.....than togo back to the cage.

You see..my fucking point...from the beginning...is that because someone is sick, it does not mean they are stupid, imbeciles, or idiots...or even cruel.....WORDS..might I add...that peoples should look up before using them so fuckin' loosely....for to insult someone just because you do not understand them...is a fools errand...

...& Karma, IS a Bitch.

.....my Grandfather wasted away with Dementia, and my mother in law is a nurse at an extended care facility.

an extended care facility is NOT an institution.

an extended care facility houses people with heath conditions that need extended care.

Its pretty much an old folks home. One for people with health conditions that need monitoring.

I used my friend as an example because if 5 days unsettled her enough to not want to go back, then I figure long term has got to be some serious punishment.

I think you are being argumentative, because you can. I was presenting an arguement that paralleled yours, in a way. The woman needed treatment, she's getting it. I was merely stating that she's not exactly going to be *comfortable*. She hurt people, and anyone presenting the argument that it deserves punishment? Its not like an institution is a picnic. That's all I was sayin.

[freydis]

Oh, and Dementia usually *is* a physical health issue--- because its typically a symptom of a physical disease or physical damage.

Not *always*, but *usually*.

Edit to add:

were you actually referring to psychosis?

Dementia has more to do with cognitive function; memory, language, problem solving. It doesnt effect your perception of reality. Its more like forgetting how to tie your shoes, run a microwave, or who your kids are (or if you even have them).

I know, we're dealing with definitions, but psychosis is a whole different animal than dementia.

Edited June 16, 2009 by munin218