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[moriah]

63. Don't be so sure.

You were alleging serious child neglect -- that the children were being left alone overnight -- in one case a five year old, and the prevailing wisdom is that unless the other child is in junior high or older, they're probably too young to be considered adequate babysitters. Also the fact there was no hot water is a serious child neglect issue.

If you didn't expect anything to happen, why'd you make the report? Because you could have accomplished more, and in a kinder way, by saying "The next time I'm aware that your children are unsupervised at night, or if you don't get the gas turned on in 10 days I will have no choice but to file a report. In the meantime, you can bathe the kids at my house, and here's the number for the LIHEAP program and the application to help you get your gas restored. I'll be happy to sit for your son while you go to their office and meet with the alderman."

As their landlord, I'm aware you can't be their social worker.

But unless you are a mandated reporter and were concerned about liability for delay, and have been willing to make these contacts in the past, the above offer seems good as a last-ditch plea before invoking child protective services. And then the report could show also that she'd even refused to do anything after your attempt, or became hostile, etc.