Children are a precious commodity for any country or culture, because they grow up to be the workers and leaders of our future. Child abuse can damage a child and hinder their ability to grow up functionally, productively. It's very important to watch for signs of child abuse and when you see it, learn how to report child abuse to the proper authorities.
It's important to realize that child abuse is a crime, and therefore, the appropriate agency to report child abuse to, in almost every instance of known abuse, is the police department or other law enforcement agency. If the child is in immediate and/or life-threatening danger and you are a witness to this, you should call 911(if you live in the United States) right away to report the crime.
If, however, you only suspect child abuse and cannot confirm it, there are different steps you should take to report suspected child abuse below.
Tips
If you see abuse happen, contact law enforcement immediately.
If you suspect the child's life is in immediate danger, call 911.
Even if you are not certain but have enough evidence to suspect abuse, report the suspicions to the appropriate agency for investigation.
Reporting Child Abuse
Child abuse is likely more common than it is reported, according to this video, and there are consequences for failure to report suspected child abuse. Child abuse reporting requirements protect people who erroneously report abuse, as long as the report of suspected abuse was made in good faith. This video explains not only why but how to report suspected child abuse and what signs to look for to determine if there's a strong likelihood of abuse.
Step 1: Contact Law Enforcement
As stated previously, child abuse is a crime, and reporting child abuse to law enforcement is the proper course of action, especially in the instance of known abuse, or strongly suspected physical abuse or sexual abuse. If you report known physical or sexual abuse to any other agency, law enforcement will still be contacted, so they are a good first contact when reporting child abuse.
If the abuse took place inside the city or town geographical limits, and your city has a police department, that is the appropriate to which you should report physical or sexual abuse of a child. If you live outside of the geographical boundary of the city or town, or if your city doesn't have its own police department, you should contact the sheriff's department or the highway patrol officers who have jurisdiction over the location where the abuse occurred.
Step 2: Contact a Person of Authority
If you suspect child abuse and the child's life is not in immediate danger, you can contact a person of authority over the child who is not responsible for or related to the child. For example, if you feel the child abuse has taken place at a child care center by one of the employees, you can report that suspected abuse to the childcare director. If you feel the abuse happened at school by a staff member, you can report that abuse to the principal. If the child has a counselor, you can report it to the child's counselor, and lastly, you can report it to a priest, minister, rabbi, or other clergy. Suspected child abuse can also be reported to the child's physician.
All of these people are professionals with either licenses or certifications that require them to report child abuse and they are trained in their professions to know who to contact and when.http://www.childwelfare.gov/responding/how.cfm
Step 3: Contact Social Services
In every state, the name of the agency that regulate and investigates child abuse differs slightly, as does the name of the regulatory agency that oversee that division. Some names you might be familiar with for reporting suspected child abuse include:
- Department of Human Services
- Child Protective Services
- Protective and Regulatory Services
- Department of Family and Children Services
- Child Welfare Services
If you find an agency with this name or a similar name in your local area, you can report suspected child abuse to them, or you can ask them what the right agency in your city or state is for reporting child abuse.
If you are unsure of who to contact, you can call the National Child Abuse Hotline at: 1.800.4.A.CHILD. (1.800.422.4453)
Warnings Signs of Abuse
- Unexplained and/or Unusual Bruises, Cuts, Abrasions
- Dirty Clothing and Hygiene
- Withdrawn, Sullen Moods
- Inappropriate Behavior (Physically aggressive, violent, sexual)
- Appears Malnourished
- Young Child Left Alone for Long Periods of Time
- Unsanitary or Unsafe Living Conditions
- Poor Health or Untreated Medical Conditions
- Child Tells Stories of Abusive Incidents
- Child is Afraid or Unwilling to Explain Injuries
- Frequent or Excessive Injuries
- Burns without Plausible Explanation
