Chad Said:

Is it possible to have someone adopt your child? (mental health)?

We Answered:

Why does your fifteen year old "need to move out of your home?" She's your kid! You don't kick your kids out when they need help. You get them help. Or you at least deal with them. She's a child -- YOUR child. Parenting is supposed to be about unconditional love, not trying to get out of "being stuck with both legal and parental responsibility."

If you are really wanting to go through with this, your options are limited. Unless you know of someone who would adopt her, your choices are that she be a ward of the court system (going into the system), you keep her with you and set and enforce serious rules, or you can send her to a residential facility for troubled teens.

In the small town I grew up in, there was one of these residential facilities, that was actually one of the first of its kind in Texas, and is still one of the most respected ones in the US. We had a lot of kids come there from California, so I know the rules about forcing her to go don't apply here. Basically, there were kids, ages 13-17, all of whom had the same problems (and worse) as your daughter. They were drug abusers, violent, runaways, disrespectful, had psychological problems, had serious anger issues, and some were convicted of crimes as serious as attempted murder. It was strict, but a LOT of the teenagers I knew who stayed there really just completely changed their lives around. With this particular facility, I can vouch for the character of the founders and the counselors. I grew up going to school with the children of the founding couple, and also went to school with several of the counselors, not to mention, the teenage residents themselves. It's called Heartlight Ministries, in Hallsville, TX (about an hour west of Shreveport, LA and three hours east of Dallas). The link to their website is below. I know there's a long waiting list, but they're expanding their campus, and they could probably offer suggestions of other similar residential facilities.

You may not be able to force her to get psychiatric help, but you could petittion a judge to order it. You can't. They probably can.

And there is not an area in the US that would not require a person to get psychiatric help if they are a danger to themselves or others. Depending on what "unhealthy" actions she took that landed her in a crisis center, she would probably be considered one of those people who COULD be required to get help for that reason.

Jeffery Said:

working in child care with a mental health problem?

We Answered:

Yes! As long as the symptoms are under control and it does not interfere with your ability to carry out your job, it should not be a problem. You can always get a letter of support from your GP or CPN if you have one in support of your application. I have worked in a children's home and was honest about my mental health problems on the health disclosure form. My manager said she saw the fact that I sought professional help as a positive, rather than just doing nothing about my illness and letting it get worse for myself. Good luck with your job hunting.

Guy Said:

can you homeschool your child if you have a mental health problem?

We Answered:

Yes she can.

She'll have company. There are teachers in brick and mortar schools *and* homeschooling parents who have mental health issues.

As long as she has it under control, it should not interfere with her ability to homeschool her child.

Justin Said:

Mental health child custody?

We Answered:

Go to court and make an emergency Motion for Custody. However, if you weren't married this may be a challenge unless you've had a DNA test or are on the birth certificate. I'm not sure how long a Section lasts; in the States it can be as little as 72 hours. She can demand return of the child the minute she's out of the hospital if you don't get a court order.