What Can You Do If You Believe a Child Is Being Abused or Neglected? An excellent way to help improve a situation for a child and create connections within your community is to�become comfortable involving yourself in the lives of others. Whether it is helping to alleviate stressful situations you see in public places, such as helping a parent with a small child get through the checkout line at the grocery store, or offering to listen to an acquaintance who seems aggravated with his or her children, your support in even the smallest ways can make a huge difference in preventing possible harm to children. Report your suspicions to your local child abuse or child protection hotline. Again, everyone has the right and responsibility to report any incidence of suspected child abuse or neglect at any time. You do not need to have �evidence� or actual knowledge of abuse when you make a report; all you need is�reasonable cause, suspicion or belief based on your observations. Information to support your concern may include your firsthand observations or beliefs, your professional training or experience, or statements made to you by the child or parent. The more specific and concrete information you can provide, the better. It is also important for you to know that all states have laws that protect reporters from legal liability as long as reports are made in good faith
Posted on: Wed, 10 Jul 2013 15:42:41 +0000