If this evil thinking, conservative libertarian may offer some advice-
While I have a great deal of sympathy for your concern, stupidity, risky lifestyle or a lack of common sense does not make a person incompetent. The best thing that people concerned for this person and her child can do is to check in on her and offer help-that is also, I believe, what we, as Christians are bound to do.
Perhaps a church group or concerned individual can work with her a few times per week on things like parenting skills, and check in to see that she has proper food and such for the child and herself? Maybe teach her some basic shopping and cooking skills-where I worked, we used to do that with mentally retarded adults who lived independently. It also allows them to interact with responsible adults and so serves as an example. This is not just Pollyanna psychobabble-it works.
I’ve had many clients over the years who were as bad or worse than you describe-we were taught to always err on the side of the client’s wishes, period, no matter who it pissed off.
The reason that such laws were passed in the first place was the abuse of the disabled and elderly by “normal” relatives-putting them in dangerous and abusive institutions, etc. to get them out of sight so they would not have to own personal responsibility (there’s that word again!). I’ve witnessed the results of that custodial treatment firsthand, and having done so will always put the clients wishes first-most of those places are worse than prisons.
Please do try to help the woman you referenced-she may be stupid and lacking in sense, but she is still a child of God, as are we all.
“Please do try to help the woman you referenced-she may be stupid and lacking in sense, but she is still a child of God, as are we all.”
Trust me, many in her family, and a former (rejected) church group, are doing just that. However we are limited by law. We can only do what she allows us to do; if we can even get to know the need. For example that child needs to not be raised in a shared junkie apartment. But there you are.