What Should You do if You Suspect Child Abuse?

On average, five children die every day because of abuse. Childhood trauma from abuse can also have adverse effects into late adulthood. Is there a way to prevent child abuse and its repercussions? The best way is to be able to recognize the signs and report it when it is suspected.

Know the Signs

There are many signs of child abuse. Some of these signs include broken bones, depression, anxiety, developmental delays, throwing temper tantrums, being clingy with adults, trouble swallowing, developing new or unusual fears of certain people or places, thinking of themselves as repulsive or dirty, exhibiting adult-like sexual behaviors, weight loss, and difficulty concentrating or learning. These are only some signs of all types of abuse; check this out for a more detailed list.

There are also some behavioral signs of sexual abusers. The following behaviors may be cause of concern: making others uncomfortable by ignoring social, emotional, or physical boundaries; refusing to let a child set his or her own limits; insisting on hugging, touching, kissing, tickling, or wrestling when the child does not want this physical contact or attention; frequently pointing out sexual images; having secret interactions with or children; being overly interested in the sexuality of a particular child (e.g. talking repeatedly about the child’s developing body); and seeming “too good to be true,” (e.g. frequently babysitting different children for free). Please note that this list is not definitive.

It’s good to know the signs of child abuse, but exhibiting those behaviors don’t always indicate abuse. Children can exhibit signs of abuse without actually being a victim of abuse. However, it’s important to recognize the signs in conjunction with other factors. A child may not tell anyone of their abuse because they are afraid or they don’t know that the abuse is wrong. It’s better to play it safe and report and viable suspicion you may have.

How to Report

The method of reporting varies from state to state. However, the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline employs professional crisis counselors. They are available 24/7 and all calls are kept confidential. Here is a list of state child abuse reporting numbers.

What to Report

To the best of your ability, provide a complete and objective account of what you suspect or witnessed. If a child came to you and told you of the abuse, do not ask leading questions, threaten the alleged abuser, make the child feel responsible, or express outrage or shock.

You do not need proof of abuse to report it, reasonable cause is enough. Waiting to report may subject the child to further risk and may delay needed services to the child and family. Again, it’s best to provide accurate and objective information.

If possible, indicate who was involved; what happened – if you were a witness to abuse, report as many concrete details as possible; if you did not witness and were only told, report as much as what the child said as you can remember; if known, when the abuse occurred, where, and how – this includes the status of the child. Is the child currently injured? How severely? Were there any environment conditions that could have contributed? It is okay if you cannot provide this information, but the more solid information you can provide, the better.

Very occasionally, children will report abuse for attention. This does not mean that reports should not be taken seriously. If a child reports abuse to you, let them know that they are doing the right thing by letting someone know, then file a report.

Afterwards

After you report child abuse, it will be sent to Child Protective Services (CPS). From there, CPS will determine if an investigation is necessary. If they do conduct an investigation, they determine if their findings are founded or not. If they are founded, then abuse did occur and CPS will initiate court action.

Over 700,000 children are victims of abuse, and over 1,500 children die each year from it. If you suspect a child is being abused, don’t stay silent; report it.