Becky: My 8 yr. old nephew has been in dire need of psych help since the age of 3. He has been labeled ODD but the truth is his mother is an alcoholic addict. She is LEGALLY the only one who can take him to psych. How can we LEGALLY make her? We are watching his anger and strife grow and his life will go down the drain. He has threatened to kill her. The school does nothing.
Becky, your nephew is lucky to have you in his life.
You may want to think about the bigger picture — is he in a situation of abuse and/or neglect? If so, you may want to meet with Child Protective Services. Also, you and your family may want to do some soul searching, to decide whether you would be willing to take the responsibility for being a foster family to your nephew, either on a long-term basis, or temporarily, while his mother conquers her addiction problems or another foster family is found. These are big, difficult questions, and you may find it helpful to discuss them with a therapist who has experience working on family challenges. A foster placement would not magically solve all your nephew’s problems, but it might be something to consider.
You need to consult with an attorney who does domestic and family law in your state. I don’t know how the school can change the horrible factors in his life.