Mum in despair over teen sex abuser

BY LYN HUMPHREYS

A mother is pleading for help to control her teenage daughter who has sexually abused young children and is a danger to herself.

The mother says she feels abandoned by Government agencies like Child Youth and Family or the police, and organisations dedicated to helping families in crisis.

In the past two years, the girl, 13, has allegedly sexually abused at least three young girls and a young male relative, the mother says.

One of her victims is her younger sister, another is a friend of the family and the third a neighbour.

"Yes, she is my daughter. I still love my daughter but I can't do it any more," the mother told the Taranaki Daily News.

The young girl's mother blames CYF because of its lack of action despite knowing the risk the teenager poses to others.

"It's like no one's doing their job. If they had done something, four children would have been saved from abuse," she said.

"So many children have been hurt because of their inaction. Because they haven't done their job my child has been abused twice."

The mother of one of the victims said she was horrified when CYF told her the incident was no more than "children playing".

However, CYF says while the young teen is not in its care, the agency is committed to helping the family.

Police have said they cannot charge the teen with the alleged sexual abuse because of her young age.

The teen's mother says her daughter, diagnosed with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) when just four and on the drug Ritalin since then, is highly sexualised and has also become dangerously aggressive.

During the holidays she tried to drown her younger sister in a swimming pool and took a knife to her older sister.

She constantly talks of killing herself.

"She lashes out. She is always talking to herself and says voices are telling her to kill," the mother says.

"I have asked for help for her for 10 years."

The situation has reached crisis point because the mother is going to Auckland for a major operation and authorities have said they have nowhere the daughter can safely go.

The mother says she will not be strong enough to deal with her violent daughter for at least six weeks.

Open Home Foundation has told her it has nowhere she can stay but a church friend has stepped in to offer short-term care.

And while an urgent referral has been made for her to be assessed by a child psychiatrist, the mother has been told the doctor is going on holiday for six weeks.

CYF central region manager Jo Field said that although the girl was not in the care of Child, Youth and Family "we are committed to helping this family in any way we can".

A number of agencies and individual specialists including Child, Youth and Family, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Open Home Foundation, psychologists, Safer Centre social worker and therapists, Strengthening Families and the Serious Child Abuse Team have all been involved with this family, Ms Field said.

"Safety plans were put in place to protect both the daughter and other children. She has been having one-on-one counselling with an independent psychologist and family therapy."

Ms Field said that CYF often deals with families whose children display violent or inappropriate behaviour.

"Sometimes, as an absolute last resort, we are required to step in and take a child into care to keep them and others safe.

"However, in this case, the family is to be commended for the commitment they have shown to providing a safe environment for their daughter."

A social worker spoke with the family as recently as Wednesday, she said.

"I am pleased to hear that they have found someone to care for the girl whilst the mother is having surgery.

"I recognise that this is an extremely stressful time for the family.

"We have promised the mother that we will continue on with our assessment of how we can best help her daughter. This process will not be delayed because she is in hospital."

- © Fairfax NZ News