1. Child Abuse and Neglect
Child abuse is an act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or
emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation; or an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm.1
Child neglect is a form of child maltreatment, a deficit in meeting a child’s basic needs including the failure to provide
basic physical, health, care, supervision, nutrition, emotional, education and/or safe housing needs.
Is this Child Abuse?
Here are some Common Types of Child Abuse and Neglect:
Physical Abuse is non-accidental physical injury (ranging from minor bruises to severe fractures or death) as a result of
punching, beating, kicking, biting, shaking, throwing, stabbing, choking, hitting (with hand, stick, strap, or other object),
burning, or otherwise harming a child, that is inflicted by a parent, caregiver, or other person who has responsibility for
that child.
Neglect is the failure of a parent, guardian, or other caregiver to provide for a child’s basic needs. Neglect may be:
 Physical (e.g., failure to provide necessary food or shelter, or lack of appropriate supervision)
 Medical (e.g., failure to provide necessary medical or mental health treatment)
 Educational (e.g., inattention to a child’s educational needs, interferes with the ability of the child to receive
proper care and attention educationally)
 Emotional (e.g., inattention to a child’s emotional needs, failure to provide psychological care, or permitting the
child to use alcohol or other drugs)
Sexual Abuse includes activities by a parent or a caregiver such as fondling a child’s genitals, penetration, incest, rape,
sodomy, indecent exposure, and exploitation through prostitution or the production of pornographic materials. More
information on child sexual abuse can be found here: Child Sexual Abuse [https://www.rainn.org/get-information/types-of-
sexual-assault/child-sexual-abuse].
Emotional Abuse (or psychological abuse) is a pattern of behavior that impairs a child’s emotional development or sense
of self-worth. This may include constant criticism, threats, or rejection, as well as withholding love, support, or guidance.
Emotional abuse is often the most difficult to prove in a criminal investigation.
Substance abuse is an element of the definition of child abuse or neglect in many states. Circumstances that are
considered abuse or neglect in some States include the following:
 Prenatal exposure of a child to harm due to the mother’s use of an illegal drug or other substance
 Manufacture of methamphetamine in the presence of a child
 Selling, distributing, or giving illegal drugs or alcohol to a child
 Use of a controlled substance by a caregiver that impairs the caregiver’s ability to adequately care for the child
1 Child WelfareInformation Gateway, WhatIs Child Abuse and Neglect? Recognizingthe Signs and Symptoms:
https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubpdfs/whatiscan.pdf

2. What are some indicators of abuse?
Types of Abuse Physical Indicators Behavioral Indicators
Physical
Unexplained bruises, welts,
burns, fractures, or bald patches
on scalp
Wary of adult contact, frightened
of parents or afraid to go home,
withdrawn or aggressive, moves
uncomfortably, wears
inappropriate clothing for weather
to try to cover bruises and
wounds
Sexual
Difficulty walking or sitting; torn
or stained/blood underclothes;
pain, itching, bruises, swelling in
genital area; frequent urinary or
yeast infections
Advanced sexual knowledge,
promiscuity, sudden school
difficulties, self-imposed social
isolation, advance of physical
contact or closeness, depression
Emotional
Speech or communicative
disorder, delayed physical
development, exacerbation of
existing conditions, substance
abuse
Habit disorders, antisocial or
destructive behaviors, neurotic
traits, behavior extremes,
developmental delays
Neglect
Consistent hunger, poor hygiene,
inappropriate dress, unattended
medical problems, underweight,
failure to thrive
Demonstrating harmful or
abusive actions towards
themselves, begging or stealing
food, constant fatigue, assuming
adult responsibilities or concerns,
frequently absent or tardy, states
no caretaker in home
How do I report child abuse?
Filing a Child Abuse Report
 For more information about where and how to file a report, contact your local Child Protective Services or Law
Enforcement agency.
 Contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline (800.4.A.CHILD) and its website offer crisis
intervention, information, resources, and referrals to support services and provide assistance in 170 languages:
Child Abuse Hotline [http://www.childhelp.org/pages/hotline-home]
 For more information on what happens when suspected abuse or neglect is reported, read Information
Gateway’s How the Child Welfare System Works: Child Welfare
[https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/cpswork.pdf]
 Mandatory Reporters (typically certain type of professionals, such as a teachers or physicians) are required by
state law to make a report of child maltreatment under specific circumstances. Child Welfare Information
Gateway’s publication Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect discusses the laws that designate groups
of professionals as mandatory reporters: Information on Mandatory Reporters
[https://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/]
When Reporting Child Abuse 2
Know that you have options:
 If this is an EMERGENCY: Call 911 or your local police.
 Document everything from this point forward, including times, dates, and places. Keep documents given to you
by all professionals who have an opinion about the child abuse. This includes therapists, doctors, policemen, and
teachers. If a professional informs you that they have an opinion or a suspicion of child abuse, have them

3. document that suspicion, preferably in the form of an affidavit. Be sure to get a copy of any opinions from
professionals regarding a child’s case. Request written confirmation after any reports are made.
 Have the child evaluated. Talk to medical and psychology professionals. If possible, have the child evaluated at
a Child Advocacy Center. Find a children’s advocacy center near you by clicking on the following link: Children
Advocacy Locater [http://www.nationalcac.org/locator.html]
 Make an abuse report. Talk to law enforcement officers to initiate an investigation into the allegation of child
abuse. Any reasonable belief of abuse or neglect should be reported to the police or Child Protective Services
(CPS) based on state laws. If you have been too afraid to voice allegations in the past, let them know. If you have
previously reported abuse, communicate the fact that you are trying to protect the child from further harm
 Get an attorney. Get an attorney if you need to discuss your legal options, including proceedings to gain full
custody of a child and how to terminate an abuser's parental rights.
Tips for Talking to a Child who has been abused2
 Avoid denial and maintain a calm demeanor. A common reaction to news as unpleasant and shocking as child
abuse is denial. However, if you display denial, shock or disgust at what they are saying, the child may be afraid
to continue and will shut down. As hard as it may be, try to remain as calm and reassuring as you can.
 Don’t interrogate. Let the child explain to you in their own words that what happened, but don’t interrogate the
child or ask leading questions. This may confuse and fluster the child and make it harder for them to continue
their story.
 Reassure the child that they did nothing wrong. It takes a lot for a child to come forward about abuse.
Reassure him or her that you take what is said seriously, and that it is not the child’s fault.
 Safety comes first. If you feel that your safety or the safety of the child would be threatened if you try to
intervene, seek professional help from CPS or an advocate.
How do I help a child recover from abuse and/or neglect?
 Reassure the child that what happened is not his/ her fault
 Look for an adolescent therapist or counselor: Adolescent Therapist or Counselor
[https://www.aacap.org/aacap/Member_Services/Find_A_Physician.aspx]
 Allow the child to talk about the abuse
 Allow the child to go through a grieving period
 Go over safety and prevention methods with the child
 Find a support group for you to attend with the child
What can I do if I am an adult victim of child abuse?3
Every person responds to trauma in a different way, and there is no one “right” way to heal. Recognize that healing is
possible. You are not alone and it is never too late for you to talk about the abuse and ask for help. The following tips can
be found through the Advocacy Center website. [http://www.theadvocacycenter.org/adv_abuseheal.html]
 The decision to heal. Your decision to heal from child sexual abuse is a powerful and positive choice. It is a
commitment to a journey, and for each individual the time to recovery may vary.
 The Emergency Stage. During this stage, the abuse may be all that you can think about and it may feel as
though your life is constantly in crisis. This stage may feel very uncomfortable, but it is important that you know
that it will come to an end with time.
 Remembering. You may have always had bad memories of the abuse and you may have tried to minimize or
stuff it away in order to forget the abuse. It’s o.k. to remember the events in order to deal with the past trauma.
2 Helpguide.org, Child Abuse and Neglect: http://www.helpguide.org/articles/abuse/child-abuse-and-neglect.htm#helping
3 Advocacy Center: http://www.theadvocacycenter.org/adv_abuseheal.html

4.  Believing the abuse happened. As a child, we sometimes denied that bad or scary things happened because
they are too hard to deal with or understand. As adults, it can still be hard or you to face the reality of the abuse
and to recognize the different ways it has impacted you.
 Breaking the Silence. You speaking out about the abuse can be a very powerful step and one that takes a
great deal of courage. Decide if you want to tell a counselor, family member, partner, everyone or anyone that
you feel comfortable with. This will be a big step towards your recovery.
 Seeking Counseling and/or Therapy – Once you break the silence consider getting counseling or therapy
services in order to help you identify current issues in your present life and how to cope with them.
 Understanding that the abuse is not your fault. Abuse is never the fault of the person being abused.
 Connecting to the child within. It is important for you to get help and support by professional and/or loved ones
in order to confront the pains and their fears caused by the abuse in order to progress towards recovery.
 Grieving. Grief is a natural part of the healing process.
 Anger. This is another natural response to abuse, but it is important that you don’t turn all of the anger inward
towards yourself. When addressed, anger can help guide people toward positive change.
 Forgiveness? You may want to forgive the abuser, but for others this is not a part of the healing process at all.
 Spirituality. For some survivors spirituality can be a source of comfort, inspiration, courage, love and strength
during the healing process.
 The process of change. You are faced with many changes during the healing process, and it can bring about a
range of emotions. It is important that you be kind and takes care of yourself during this process.
 Resolution and moving on. The healing process can be a long one, but there will come a point where you feel
like there is more balance and that you are no longer in constant crisis. It is important for you to remember that
there is no finish line to healing.
Additional Resources
 National Child Abuse 24-Hour Hotline: 1-800-422-4453
The Childhelp National Abuse Hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with professional crisis
counselors.
 Child Protective Services: 202-671-SAFE
 RAINN (Sexual Assault Hotline): 1-800-656-4673
 National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse (NAASCA) : 323-552-6150
The primary mission at NAASCA is to reduce the incidence of child abuse for today’s at-risk kids, and to offer
recovery to those many millions of adults who still suffer from the pain and consequences of the abuses they
experienced in their youth
 Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA): 1-800-628-3233
Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children is a network of 949 community-based programs that recruit, train
and support citizen-volunteers to advocate for the best interest of abused and neglected children in courtrooms
and communities.
 National Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC). Used to locate a Child Advocacy Center near you.
Website: http://www.nationalcac.org/locator.html.
 American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Locate a child and/or adolescent psychiatrist near you.
Website: https://www.aacap.org/aacap/Member_Services/Find_A_Physician.aspx.
 State Sexual Coalitions
 NCMEC Child Pornography Tip line: 1-800-656-4673
 Survivor’s Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP): 1-877-762-7432
 Voices in Action (for prevention of incest): 1-800-786-4288
 Survivors of Incest Anonymous (organizes community meeting and has a 12-step program): www.sawso.org
 National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information: (800) 394-3366
 State Crime Victim Compensation: http://www.nacvcb.org/index.asp?sid=5