It would be wonderful if every adult on the planet felt a responsibility for protecting every child on the planet. However, most of us live in the small, "closed" world of our family, our neighborhood, our work environment and, occasionally, people we meet while traveling.

It is difficult, sometimes, to see child abuse, or hear of child abuse or suspect a child is being abused and then to actually take action! The actual answer is simple….if not you, then who? Every child deserves the protection of ANY adult who witnesses or hears of danger, abuse or looming danger in the future.

The following information is provided to help you understand the issues surrounding the "how?, why? and what?" of reporting child abuse or suspected abuse.

If you suspect abuse:

• Be aware of both physical and behavioral signs
• Be approachable - let the child know that you are available to talk; build a relationship with the child that will allow him/her to feel comfortable sharing such difficult information with you
• Evaluate the situation - contact local law enforcement if you think there is immediate danger to the child or get medical help immediately if you think the child has been injured
• Make a report - remember you only need to have 'reasonable cause to believe' that a child is being abused or neglected for you to make a report - you don't need proof! If you think a child is being hurt in any way, you have a legal (in some cases) and moral responsibility to report it. You can report suspected abuse even if the child doesn't tell you about it.

If your child (or any child) tells you they have been abused, you'll probably feel devastated but it is important to:

• Believe your (the) child - children almost NEVER lie about abuse
• Let the child talk - give them as much encouragement as possible to talk about it with you, but don't force them to give details if they don't want to. Encourage the child to talk but don't push him/her to do so. Use open-ended questions (such as "what happened?") rather than leading questions (such as, "when did he hit you?")
• Make it clear the abuser is to blame - let the child know the abuse is NOT their fault
• Don't overreact - Try to stay calm; this will help keep the child from becoming more frightened and may encourage him/her to tell you more. Do not talk negatively about the suspected abuser in front of the child; simply reassure the child that it is not the child's fault.
• Stress that she/he has done the right thing in telling you - reassure constantly that telling you was the best thing to do, and that she/he is now safe
• Write down what the child says and report it - Write down as much of the child's actual words as possible so that you can share those words with the appropriate agency. Describe in writing any signs of abuse/neglect you observe.
• Get professional help to deal with the situation - call the police or call Childhelp USA® National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD®) Childhelp can receive your call and have a LOCAL official deal with you directly.
• Get some support for yourself - talk to a trusted friend or relative about your own feelings

If you need to make a report, remember:

• Anyone can make a report - while some people are legally mandated to report, you can report suspected abuse regardless of your profession or relationship to the child
• Don't delay - Never assume that someone else will make a report, and don't put off reporting because you're not sure if you should. It is better to make a report and let trained professionals decide what action needs to be taken than risk further harm to the child. The sooner you report, the sooner the child and family can get help.
• Identify the proper reporting agency - If your not sure what agency to call to make the report, look in the front of your phone book for listings under child abuse, Department of Social Services, Department of Human Services, or Children, Youth and Family Service. You can also call your local law enforcement agency to get the correct number or if you think the child is in immediate danger. An easy number to call is Childhelp USA® National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD®). Their operators are skilled at determining what to do next and they have access to ALL agencies throughout the country in terms of numbers and possibly even patching the call through to the proper local agencies.
• While you should not delay in making a report, at some point you may be asked the following information:
  • Child's name, or if you don't know the child's name, a description of the child
  • The name or description of the suspected abuser, including relationship to the child, if known (get license plate number if possible if you are in a public place and don't know the suspected abuser)
  • What you observed-a description of the suspected abuse/neglect, when it occurred, any concerns for the child's immediate safety
  • Any knowledge you have of suspected or known past abuse/neglect
  • Any other witness
  • Your relationship to the child (friend, teacher, neighbor, stranger)
• Again, don't delay making a report just because you don't have all this information - it is important to make the report as soon as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I need to have proof of abuse/neglect in order to make a report?
  • No, you need reasonable cause to believe abuse/neglect has occurred. In MOST CASES, first reports have no solid proof, but a series of unexplained injuries and/or behavioral events that lead a reasonable person to believe there is something wrong.
• What happens after I make a report?
  • The child protection agency (these are called different names in different parts of the country, and could be known as a children's advocacy center or Department of Social Services) will investigate the case and determine whether abuse/neglect has occurred and what actions to take.
• How do I know if anything is being done after I make the report?
  • In most states, mandated reporters (such as teachers, doctors, nurses, etc) usually receive information within 60 days of filing a report as to what action, if any, was taken to protect the child who was the subject of the report. Other reporters who are relatives of the child, but are not the parent, may make a written request for information from the agency. These reporters may be able to receive notice of what actions, if any, were taken to protect the child, unless there is a court order prohibiting disclosure.
• Will I have to testify in court?
  • Not in most cases, but it is a possibility.
• Will my report be confidential?
  • In most cases, yes. However, your identity may be revealed if you're called to testify in court. If you are concerned about being identified you can make an anonymous report, BUT MAKE THE REPORT! A CHILD AT RISK DESERVES THAT MUCH FROM ALL OF US.
• Can I be sued if I report potential abuse/neglect and it turns out that there was none?
  • Most states have laws protecting people who report 'in good faith', meaning that the reporter had reasonable cause to believe abuse/neglect had occurred
• Will the child be removed from his/her home if I make a report?
  • In most cases, child protective services tries to keep the child and family together and provide the needed intervention to prevent maltreatment from occurring. If the child is in immediate danger, he/she may be removed and placed in protective custody.