My gf is 16 and lives in a dangerous neighborhood in PA. Her house is unsanitary and her family is poor and drinks and verbally abuses her all the time. Is there anyway we can get her out of there?

Answer 1

Yes, call child protection services (Google her area preferably).

They will immediately go there with a patrol car or two, survey the parents/home/children and possibly gather information from neighbor's depending on what information they find out at the home.

There is a downside to having her taken away at 16, though. She will be placed into a foster home either immediately or into a child care center awaiting a suitable home for foster care. The downside isn't that she will be given a new home of course, but the fact that some 60-70% of foster homes are worse than the original home the child comes from and if she has any siblings they will likely be separated from each other in different homes.

My suggestion is to contact child services and making it a point to specifically tell them she wants to be emancipated from the home (16 is usually the age that you gain the ability to be emancipated, some states it's sooner).

To be emancipated, she will need to find a suitable place to live away from the parents/family and she must have a stable job that pays enough to support the place she lives in.

There is a lot involved in this process so please ask lots of questions with child services, they are there to help you.

Answer 2

If your girlfriend is in immediate danger, it is important to prioritize her safety. You can encourage her to seek help from a trusted adult, such as a teacher or counselor, who can report the situation to Child Protective Services. They will assess the situation and take appropriate action to ensure her safety. In the meantime, encourage her to stay with a trusted friend or family member if possible.