Children need advocates. You advocate for children by building caring relationships with children. You have the legal responsibility to advocate for children by reporting child abuse. You have the moral responsibility to report suspected abuse in order to stop the abuse and prevent the abuse of other children by the abuser.
Warning Signs of Abuse
- Listen for statements about harsh punishment
- Be aware of language about sexuality that does not seem age-appropriate
- Be alert for physical marks
- Be in tune to your child’s overall well-being and responses to others
What to do When You Observe or Suspect Abuse
When a child makes a comment about an abuse incident, you observe abuse, or suspicious marks are clearly visible:
- Involve others, such as staff in the organization in which you are serving
- Discuss the issues and steps that need to be taken
If there is a suspicion of child abuse, it is not enough just to tell someone in your organization or school about your suspicions. Any abuse evidence or suspicions must be reported to law enforcement or governmental child protective agencies. Report the abuse yourself or ensure that someone has made the report.
If a report needs to be made:
- Understand that the report is confidential and you are not liable
- Understand that it is your responsibility and a legal requirement to report child abuse
- Understand that it shows care to report child abuse – you may be preventing the abuse of other children
Avoid:
- Being an investigator
- Speculating how a situation will be handled – fulfill your legal obligation and the child protective agency will be responsible for addressing the abuse
- Asking leading questions of the child – professionals have specific procedures for obtaining information about abuse
It is not up to you to worry about what might happen to the abuser or to the organization connected to the situation. If you know of or suspect abuse, it is your legal and moral duty to report it. By reporting, you are advocating for the child, protecting that child, and likely other children in the perpetrator’s life.