Reporting Child Abuse

The United States possesses stringent laws in regards to child abuse. If you suspect a situation where the abuse of children is present, you should immediately report the incident or suspected action to a counselor, teacher, medical professional, employee of a school district, law enforcement officer, or child protection services. The act of reporting child abuse is anonymous, so retaliation from the guilty party is not possible. 

Typically, a suspected case of child abuse is reported to the child's local child protection agency or the police department. The signs of child abuse include frequent injuries, tentativeness, hearing abusive language directed towards a child, and physical acts of harm.

It is crucial to report such acts to any of the aforementioned agencies. A failure to immediately respond to such drastic and unfortunate situations could result in serious psychological or physical damage inflicted upon the child.

NEXT: What You Need to Know About Breaking the Cycle