Child Abuse Support
What is child abuse?
Any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or other caregiver that results in harm, potential for harm, or threat of harm to a child
Recognize the Signs
Signs of child abuse or neglect include:
Unexplained injuries, such as bruises
Extreme behaviors, such as excessive crying, truancy or running away
Poor hygiene and unsuitable clothing
Excessive fear of parent(s), caregiver(s) or going home
Depression or excessive crying
Poor peer relationships or inability to relate to children of the same age
Sudden change in behavior
Constant hunger, tiredness or lack of energy
Attention-seeking behaviors
*Information taken from Nationwide Children's
Child Abuse Resources
National Child Abuse Hotline: They can provide local referrals for services. A centralized call center provides the caller with the option of talking with or texting a counselor. They are also connected to a language line that can provide service in over 140 languages. Call or text hotline: 800.422.4453
Darkness to Light: They provide crisis intervention and referral services to children or people affected by sexual abuse of children. Hotline calls are automatically routed to a local center. Helpline: 866.FOR.LIGHT (367.5444)
Cyber Tipline: This Tipline is operated by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Can be used to communicate information to the authorities about child pornography or child sex trafficking. Hotline: 800.THE.LOST (843.5678)
National Children’s Alliance: This organization represents the national network of Child Advocacy Centers (CAC). CACs are a multidisciplinary team of law enforcement, mental and physical health practitioners who investigate instances of child physical and sexual abuse. Their website explains the process and has a directory according to geographic location.
Stop It Now: Provides information to victims and parents/relatives/friends of child sexual abuse. The site also has resources for offender treatment as well as information on recognizing the signs of child sexual abuse. Hotline: 888-PREVENT (773.8368)
Justice for Children: Provides a full range of advocacy services for abused and neglected children.