Every citizen, whether a mandatory reporter or not, should report suspected abuse. If you suspect any child is being abused, please call the Hotline for your state or area. You DO NOT NEED PROOF that a child has been abused or neglected to make a report, only reasonable suspicion. The authorities will determine if abuse or neglect is occurring. For a list of state reporting hotlines, click here.
MBF Resources:
Safety Brief: Identifying & Responding to Abuse
MBF Online Training: Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse & Neglect
External Resources:
The Annie E. Casey Foundation
The Annie E. Casey Foundation provides a data center with a wealth of useful information about children’s well being. Information can be searched by state.
Childwelfare.gov
The Child Welfare Information Gateway, a service of the Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides resources for protecting children from abuse and strengthening families. They also provide state, national, and international data and statistics on the incidence of child abuse and neglect.
PreventChildAbuse.org
Prevent Child Abuse America works to ensure the healthy development of children nationwide through a network of chapters in 50 states and through advocacy of a national policy framework and strategy for children and families and through the promotion of evidence-based practices that prevent abuse and neglect.