Summary Of The Reporters/Great Aunts By Velma/Mary Ann

The main character in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith, is certainly the brilliant and resourceful Francie Nolan, however, three other characters in the novel deserve credit for guiding Francie through her troublesome childhood. Francie Nolan grows up in the slums of Williamsburg, Brooklyn in the early 1900s. Despite Francie’s lifestyle of poverty and distress, she manages to work several respectable jobs, attend college and, fall in love. Although Francie works hard, she would not have been able to survive without the encouragement and support of Johnny Nolan, Sissy Rommely and Katie Nolan.

The first possible blame was on the birth mother’s relatives. They saw Lauren when she came over and believed the story that she had an eating disorder (“Girl in the Closet”). The author wanted the reader to think that the relatives could have prevented some of Lauren’s abuse if they paid more attention. Lauren’s siblings were also blamed by the author. They knew of the abuse and sometimes snuck her food. However, they were too afraid of their mom to do anything to help their sister. If the siblings would have told someone, Lauren’s abuse might have been shortened. The reporter also cast blame upon Child Protective Services. They had been called by neighbors, but CPS left when Lauren was forced to tell them she was fine. Kim Higgins, a CPS caseworker, stated, “There was never a time we went out and saw the kids and saw the home, and talked to them, and failed to do something. The failure was really on everyone else in these kids’ lives.” The reporter wants us to believe that the case workers could have dug deeper and not have given up so easily. No matter who was to blame, the reporter chose a unique perspective in writing this

When I sat down there were two African-American women approximately 30 years old, seated with two children each. One set of children were approximately two years old, a boy and a girl. Their focus is basically assisting their French fries make it to their mouths. The other set of children are both boys. One is approximately three years old and the other looks to be about seven years old. I cannot tell who the Mother is to either set of children, and who is responsible for them. Both women are attending to the smaller children equally. One of the women is very pregnant. The pregnant woman takes the trays to the trash as the other tightens the sippy-cup’s lids of the three younger children. The two year old boy put a toy in his mouth and one of the women told him to stop it. When the non-pregnant woman allowed the young children to swap an airplane toy for an Iron Man figure, the two year old boy started crying. It was apparent at that point, who the mother was as she got up to go do something out of my sight, and the young two year old boy turned around and started crying with outstretched arms.

There is no outward display of affection. She “was not a mother/woman.” The children take care of themselves with some help from a nurse.

This story is not a typical one when it comes to the topic of child abuse. Most people would think that they would hear about starvation, or beatings, or sexual molestation. But child abuse is harming a child whether it be mentally or physically and forcing a child to live with something like this can be severely mentally damaging. (Hopper)

Reporter see the children everyday. Reporter cooks enough for the children to eat. They were eating bologna sandwiches and cold cuts. The children are being clothed. They have clothes at other people homesdown the street. A woman put them out because the mother and grandmother curse and beat on the children. The children curse back at the mother and grandmother. The mother tells the grandmother don't hit my damn children. Mom tells the grandmother she will buss her in her face. This happens everyday. The grandmother is sickly. Per reporter, if it wasn't for the grandmother, welfare would have been got the children. Reporter stated Larry is not in school anymore because he was kicked out for fighting. Larry cursed the bus driver out and he can't ride the bus anymore. Per reporter, the family has no where to stay. They are living in an abandoned house. Reporter has discused the concerns with the mother. Mom was told the police would be called. Mom said it's her damn children and she do what she wants. A man calls the children his grandchildren. He use to go with the grandmother. He said they could live with him at Sawmill Quarter. He doesn't want to see the children on the street. The children don't need immediate

Foster parent, Shanikqua Glenn, stated that the reason she requested this Review is because she would like to express her “point of view” of the incident. Ms. Glenn indicated that she is concerned about Azzore; she is receiving phone calls from his school and he is “crying for me.” Ms. Glenn expressed that Azzore has various marks on him which were inflicted by his sister, Tymani. Ms. Glenn indicated that she is concerned about Tymani and Azzore being in a foster home and the treatment Azzore is subjected to by Tymani. Ms. Glenn voiced that Tymani was not allowed to physically abuse Azzore while both children were placed in her home.

Their mother comes out of the house, “When she saw me, her face fell. She scolded the kids as if that was what she’d come for. ‘I told you not to bother the

The reporter said Susan (victim) is afraid to stay there with Charles, but he’s afraid for the Home Health people to come out to the home. 3 or 4 years ago, the victim fell out of the bed and broke her hip, and Charles was in the household with the victim at the time. The neighbors have called the police out to the home, and the police have been out to the home several times, but it is unknown why. The reporter said they came out to the home, due to abuse (unknown when). The reporter spoke to Charles about the concerns, but he acts as if he didn’t do anything wrong. Charles says that Susan has lost her mind. The reporter last saw the victim 2 ½ years ago and discussed the allegations with the alleged

Shalonda is from place to place, from Neshoba County, to Lauderdale County. She left Lauderdale County for several reasons; the maternal grandmother took pictures to the DHS office of the kids being abused, DHS was looking for her, and for other reasons. Shalonda constantly beats the children with her fist, belt and switches. Branderius has old scars on his body, and the reporter notes for the worker to take his clothes off to view them. Branderius has stated that his mother does not love him, and he is going to leave when he’s older. Shalonda also allow her boyfriend to abuse Branderius. Jakavian has sickle cell ‘real bad’. Shalonda took him to the doctor because is stomach was swollen, but she did not tell them the reason it was swollen.

R/s Aushia beats on her children, she hits them too hard. R/s Aushia punches the children in their backs. R/s the youngest child, Jeremy “Junior” (2) has a ringworm and the child had the ringworm for over one month and Aushia hasn’t treated the ringworm. R/s Aushia dresses her daughter, Japanee (7) in 12 month size clothes. R/s Aushia receives food stamps but the children beg other people for food. R/s Aushia smokes marijuana around the children and she eats clay. R/s Aushia rides the children in her truck without car seats and she has no insurance on the vehicle. R/s Aushia is moving around from house to house because she was evicted from her apartment. R/s Aushia is staying with her sister, Amy in the Wastonia Complex by the housing authority.

Reporter is a foster parent. Reporter is scared to provide name for the report because the children are so bad and scared of what they will do. The Pearl police are familiar with the children. The children have an older sibling and his name is Mitch. According to facebook, the mother has been sent to jail again. It is unknown if it is true. The children were last living with the mother. When the mother use to go to jail in the past the grandmother (Jane) would care for the children. Jane has passed away. Per reporter, mom is a drug addict and has her drug dealer living with her. It is unknown if the children were in the home at the time. Reporter has never met the mother and last saw the children on January 12th. Reporter stated the children's

Edoria said the children’s mother is currently out of jail and called their father (Jalen) yesterday asking him if he could bring their children to come and see her. However, Edoria said Jalen would not take the children to see their mother because he was told she is staying in a drug house. Edoria said Connie came to visit with the children and said the home the children’s mother has been staying in is known to be a place people do meth in. Edoria said Jalen is afraid for his children to go where their mother is because anything could happen to them. Edoria said the children’s mother has no way of taking care of them which is why her, Kenya, and Jalen have to buy the children’s clothes. Edoria said kids are supposed to be with their mother but she said her grandchildren’s mother is unfit and lives from home to home. Edoria also said the children’s mother is unable to meet their basic needs or care for them. Edoria mentioned that there was once an incident where the children’s mother said they do not help her with the children, but she said the children’s mother just wanted them keep the

On 04/05/16, the victim came to school wearing pants with holes in them. Cryterious told his teacher he was home alone when the bus driver dropped him off on 04/04/16; the bus driver stated someone was at the home and had to help him inside. Ms. Stewart goes on vacations often and leaves the victim in the care of his older sister and younger brother. Dejone locks herself inside her room with her significant other leaving Mickeal to care for the victim. On 04/04/16, Mickeal had to cook for the victim and dress him for school today. The victim's pants had holes in them because there are not any clean clothes. There is not a wheel chair ramp at the home and the victim is left outside alone often. Crysterious has been left in the rain in the past;

“Please, I can’t leave my family!” “Move before I slap you. I’ll make sure there is a public representation for your kids tomorrow.” I watched in horror as the woman was eroded away as my own cousin tied a noose for the woman’s child. They were only kids, but they had told us that it was for our family back home.