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Please
call any of these hotlines, if:
- you are stressed to the point of
harming your child.
- you need information concerning
domestic violence, parenting, adult survivors, custody concerns, or
related issues.
- you want information about agencies
in your area that can help.
- you want to know what abuse is, the
signs of abuse, Shaken Baby Syndrome, and how to report these.
- the system has failed you.
- you need someone to listen.
CHILDHELP USA® NATIONAL
CHILD ABUSE HOTLINE
1-800-4-A-CHILD®
24 HOURS A DAY(This is a national hotline that also reaches Canada,
Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.)
HOW TO REPORT SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT
If you suspect that a child is being
abused or neglected, you should call your local Child Protective
Services (CPS) agency or the CPS agency in the State in which the
abuse occurred. As you identify the appropriate agency for making a
report, remember the following:
- Not every State has a toll free
hotline, or the hotline may not operate on a 24 hour basis.
- If a toll free (800 or 888) number
is available, it may be accessible only from within that State.
- Federal agencies have no authority
to intervene in individual child abuse and neglect cases. Each State
has jurisdiction over these matters, and has specific laws and
procedures for reporting and investigating. In some States, all
citizens are mandated reporters by State law and must report any
suspicion of child abuse or neglect.
We have listed below the toll free
numbers for the States that have them. If a number is not listed, or
if you need to report suspected abuse in a State other than your own,
please call:
Childhelp® USA National Child Abuse Hotline
1-800-4-A-CHILD®
(1-800-422-4453)
TDD: 1-800-2-A-CHILD |
