WHO SHOULD REPORT AND WHAT TO LOOK FOR?

Somewhere in your community there is a family who has a serious problem. The children in that family are being abused and neglected by their parent.

According to the law in most States, all persons (including doctors, mental health professionals, child care providers, dentists, family members and friends) must report suspected cases of child abuse. Failure to report child abuse is a violation of the law. If you believe a child has been abused by a parent, relative, friend or stranger, call the State DCS office (Directory of Numbers), the Juvenile Court or the chief law enforcement officer in your area.

Indicators of abuse and neglect:

• They have repeated injuries that are not properly treated or adequately explained.
• They begin acting in unusual ways ranging from disruptive and aggressive to passive and withdrawn.
• They act in the role of the parent toward their brothers and sisters or even toward their own parents.
• Their sleep is disturbed (nightmares, bedwetting, fear of sleeping alone, need a nightlight).
• They lose their appetite or overeat.
• There is a sudden drop in school grades or participating in activities.
• They may act in stylized ways, such as sexual behavior that is not normal for their age group.

The following signs indicate that something is wrong but do not necessarily point to abuse. However, if you notice these signs early, you may be able to prevent abuse or neglect.

Parents who abuse or neglect their children may show some common characteristics.

• They seem to be isolated from the community and have no close friends.
• When asked about a child's injury, they offer conflicting reasons or no explanation at all.
• They seem unwilling or unable to provide for a child's basic needs.
• They expect too much of their children.
• They don't supervise or discipline their children in ways that teach them to correct their behavior.

Parents who abuse their children need help.
But few are able to admit the problem and seek assistance.

More than 85 percent of the perpetrators of child abuse and neglect in America were the parents or relatives of the victims. Staff of school, child care settings or institutions were reported to be the perpetrators in only two percent of the investigation. Adolescents as well as adults can be perpetrators of abuse.

To report abuse, CALL:

• Your local DCS office, (Directory of Numbers)
• Your local Juvenile Court
• Local Sheriff's office or Police Department

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