How to Report Child Abuse
Informing the Authorities When You Suspect a Child Is Being Abused
If you suspect child abuse, you need to be prepared for making the call to report the suspected abuse. You need to know who to call and write down any facts you know.
If you have reason to believe that a child is being abused, you need to know how to report the suspected abuse to the proper authorities. Each state has its own system and procedures in place for reporting child abuse, but it all starts with getting prepared to make the call.
What to Expect When You Call to Report Child Abuse
You will need to get your facts together before calling to report suspected child abuse. Write down as much information as you can; this way, if you get nervous or upset while making your phone call, you will not leave anything out because you forgot to mention it. Write down names, dates, and descriptions of abusive behavior or physical marks you may have noticed. License plate numbers may be helpful if you witnessed potential abuse happening in a public place where you did not know the individuals involved, perhaps a parent slapping a crying child in the checkout line in the grocery store.
It can be very nerve-wracking to report suspected child abuse. You may feel uncomfortable about reporting a neighbor, a friend, an acquaintance, or even a family member. Remind yourself that you are calling to save a child from suffering abuse at the hands of this adult.
You may worry that you are mistaken about your allegations. This is understandable. What you are reporting are your suspicions of child abuse. If you are mistaken, law enforcement or child protective services will discover that in their investigation. You have to consider which position would make you feel worse - reporting suspected child abuse and having the authorities determine that you were wrong, or not reporting suspected child abuse and being right, leaving the child at the mercy of the abuser.
Who to Call to Report Child Abuse
You will want to call your local child protective services (CPS) in order to report child abuse. You can find the number to your local agency in the local phone book or by doing an internet search. If you need to call to report child abuse in progress - for example, you can hear the child screaming and the adult yelling and/or hitting the child - call 911 or your local police department in order to get officers to the scene as soon as possible.
If you do not feel you are adequately prepared to make the call on your own, you can call Childhelp's National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child. This number is available to report child abuse in any state, and the staff for the hotline can talk you through your phone call. All calls are anonymous.
Who Should Report Child Abuse
Certain people in some professions are required to report suspected child abuse - educators, members of the clergy, medical practitioners, social workers, law enforcement officials, childcare workers, mental health professionals, etc. - but anyone can report suspected child abuse. If you believe you have witnessed an abusive act or discovered signs of child abuse, you can report it to the authorities.
For more information, visit the U. S. government's Child Welfare Information Gateway.
