[Dorothy777]

My great Niece is severely troubled. She is 16 years old & she won't take help. She manipulates any therapy, etc. She is bullying everyone in the house. I'm afraid my niece has raised her in a child-center home. I can't do anything about all that but her younger sister is 9 years old. She keeps telling her younger sister how awful & stupid she is. Well now she is believing it. She has straight F's in school & very very low self esteem. We bring her to camp every year but big deal - she needs more help than that. What I'm wondering is what are the legal rights on getting the 16-year-old out of the house now that she's had a baby. I know I know, the ideal thing would be to get her help too, but she won't take it. She stands in her parents room & won't leave & tells them "what are you going to do about it" you can't make me do anything. She knows she controls the household & from the outside I don't know what to do about it. I want to start with helping the one that wants help, the 9 yr old. My next recourse is to have the 9 yr old come live with me but that doesn't solve the problem for the rest of the household. Can they legally kick her out now that she has had a baby?

[Fr_Chuck]

I would agree have the 9 year old come live with you

[JudyKayTee]

I am guessing the 16-year old lives with her parents, not in the same house where you reside. If the parents won't do anything there is little you can do BUT have you approached the parents about taking guardianship of the younger child?

And, yes, if the mother is abusive no matter HOW old she is someone needs to protect her baby - call Child Protective Services IF you are concerned.

The parents can take a few steps to remove the 16-year old from the house BUT that's the parents, not you.