Reporting Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect

A child who exhibits any of the following signs may be a victim of physical abuse:

• Has unexplained injuries/marks, such as burns, bites, bruises, broken bones, or black eyes
• Is reluctant to explain injuries after returning home from being in someone else’s care
• Seems scared, anxious, depressed, withdrawn, or aggressive
• Seems frightened of a parent or parents and protests or cries when it is time to go home
• Shrinks at the approach of adults
• Shows unusual changes in eating and sleeping habits
• Reports injury or abuse by a parent or another adult caregiver
• Abuses animals or pets

Consider the possibility of physical abuse when a parent or other caregiver:

• Offers conflicting, unconvincing, or no explanation for a child’s injury or provides an explanation that is inconsistent with an injury
• Shows little concern for a child or a child’s injuries
• Sees a child as entirely bad, burdensome, or worthless
• Uses harsh physical discipline with a child
• Has a history of abusing animals or pets

A child who exhibits the following signs may be a victim of neglect:

• Is frequently absent from school
• Begs or steals food or money
• Lacks needed medical care, including dental or vision care
• Is consistently dirty and has severe body odor
• Lacks sufficient clothing for the weather
• Abuses alcohol or other drugs
• States that there is no one at home to provide care

Consider the possibility of neglect when a parent or other caregiver:

• Appears to be indifferent to a child
• Seems apathetic or depressed
• Behaves irrationally or in a bizarre manner
• Abuses alcohol or other drugs
• Repeatedly leaves younger children outside or alone with no visible caregiver

A child who exhibits any of the following signs may be a victim of sexual abuse:

• Has difficulty walking or sitting
• Experiences bleeding, bruising, or swelling in the genital area
• Suddenly refuses to go to school
• Reports nightmares or wets the bed
• Engages in self-harm, including cutting, burning, or otherwise hurting his or herself
• Has a sudden change in appetite or shows signs of an eating disorder
• Demonstrates bizarre, sophisticated, or unusual sexual knowledge or behavior or displays inappropriate sexual behavior with other children or adults
• Becomes pregnant or contracts a sexually transmitted disease, particularly if under age 14
• Runs away
• Reports sexual abuse by a parent or another adult caregiver
• Attaches very quickly to strangers or new adults in their environment

Consider the possibility of sexual abuse when a parent or other caregiver:

• Tries to be a child’s friend rather than maintaining an appropriate adult role
• Repeatedly compliments the child’s physical appearance or requests pictures inappropriate to the adult’s role
• Flatters the child into thinking that their relationship is a secret or romantic
• Makes up excuses to be alone with a child
• Talks with a child about the adult’s personal problems or relationships
• Exposes a child to inappropriate media of a sexual nature, including pornography

A child who exhibits the following signs may be a victim of mental injury:

• Shows extremes in behavior, such as being overly compliant or demanding, extremely passive, or aggressive
• Either inappropriately assumes the role of an adult in the home (e.g., parents or protects other children), acts inappropriately infantile, or engages in self-harm, including display of repetitive behaviors such as rocking or head-banging
• Does not seem to be attached to the parent/caregiver
• Demonstrates a noticeable decline in cognitive abilities or self

Consider the possibility of mental injury when the parent or other adult caregiver:

• Constantly blames, belittles, or berates the child
• Describes the child negatively
• Overtly rejects the child
• Excessively takes an apparently healthy child for medical appointments with different doctors or experts, seemingly rejecting the advice of medical professionals