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Child Abuse

Child Abuse

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  “Child maltreatment includes all types of abuse and neglect of a child under the age of 18 by a parent, caregiver, or another person in a custodial role (e.g., clergy, coach, teacher).”  There are four major categories of child abuse:

. Physical Abuse                                

. Sexual Abuse

. Emotional Abuse

. Neglect

Each state has its own system to receive and respond to reports of possible child abuse. Anyone can call hotlines, local child protective services, or law enforcement agencies to share their concerns.

TIP: Reporting is anonymous.   A dispatcher will take down the information, and a decision will be made whether to send a social worker or police officer to investigate further.

To report abuse or get help, contact the National Child Abuse Hotline:   1-800-4-A-CHILD   (1-800-422-4453). * Or, scroll to the bottom of this page for each state’s numbers.

BELOW ARE 2 EXCELLENT SITES FOR OVERALL HELP:

www.childhelp.org

www.childwelfare.gov

STATE BY STATE TOLL FREE NUMBERS TO REPORT CHILD ABUSE:

Alabama

Local (toll): (334) 242-9500

www.cft.alabama

Alaska

Toll-Free:    (800) 478-4444

http://www.hss.state.ak.us/ocs/

Arizona

Toll-Free:    (888) SOS-CHILD (888-767-2445)

www.azdes.gov/dcyf/cps/reporting.asp

Arkansas

Toll-Free:    (800) 482-5964

http://www.arkansas.gov/reportARchildabuse/

California

http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/cdssweb/PG20.htm

Reporting numbers: http://www.childsworld.ca.gov/res/pdf/CPSEmergNumbers.pdf

Colorado

Local (toll):   (303) 866-5932

www.cdphe.state.co.us/childwelfare

Connecticut

TDD:      (800) 624-5518

Toll-Free:    (800) 842-2288

http://www.ct.gov/dcf/site/default.asp

Delaware

Toll-Free:    (800) 292-9582

http://kids.delaware.gov/services/crisis.shtml

District of Columbia

Local (toll):     (202) 671-SAFE (202-671-6233)

http://cfsa.dc.gov/DC/CFSA/Support+the+Safety+Net/Report+Child+Abuse+and+Neglect

Florida

Toll-Free:   (800) 96-ABUSE (800-962-2873)

http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/programs/abuse/howtoreport.shtml

Georgia

http://dfcs.dhr.georgia.gov

Hawaii

Local (toll):     (808) 832-5300

http://www.hawaii.gov/dhs/protection/social_services/child_welfare/

Idaho

TDD:     (208) 332-7205

Toll-Free:    (800) 926-2588

www.healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/Children/AbuseNeglect

Illinois

Toll-Free:    (800) 252-2873

Local (toll):     (217) 524-2606

http://www.state.il.us/dcfs/child/index.shtml

Indiana

Toll-Free:   (800) 800-5556

http://www.in.gov/dcs/protection

Iowa

Toll-Free:     (800) 362-2178

www.dhs.state.ia.us

Kansas

Toll-Free:    (800) 922-5330

http://www.srs.ks.gov/Pages/Default.aspx

Kentucky

Toll-Free:    (800) 752-6200

http://chfs.ky.gov/dcbs/dpp/childsafety.html

Louisiana

http://www.dss.state.la.us/

Maine

TTY:      (800) 963-9490

Toll-Free:     (800) 452-1999

http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/ocfs/hotlines.htm

Maryland

http://www.dhr.state.md.us/

Massachusetts

Toll-Free:     (800) 792-5200

http://www.mass.gov/Child+Abuse+and+Neglect

Michigan

Toll-Free:    (800) 942-4357

http://www.michigan.gov

Minnesota

http://www.dhs.state.mn.us

Mississippi

Toll-Free:     (800) 222-8000

Local (toll):     (601) 359-4991

http://www.mdhs.state.ms.us/

Missouri

Toll-Free:    (800) 392-3738

Local (toll):     (573) 751-3448

http://www.dss.mo.gov/cd/rptcan.htm

Montana

Toll-Free:     (866) 820-5437

http://www.dphhs.mt.gov

Nebraska

Toll-Free:    (800) 652-1999

http://www.hhs.state.ne.us/ChildrenServices

Nevada

Toll-Free:     (800) 992-5757

http://dcfs.state.nv.us/

New Hampshire

Toll-Free:      (800) 894-5533

Local (toll):     (603) 271-6556

http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/

New Jersey

TDD:     (800) 835-5510

TTY:     (800) 835-5510

Toll-Free:     (877) 652-2873

http://www.state.nj.us/nj/safety/

New Mexico

Toll-Free:      (800) 797-3260

Local (toll):     (505) 841-6100

http://www.cyfd.org/

New York

TDD:       (800) 369-2437

Toll-Free:     (800) 342-3720

Local (toll):    (518) 474-8740

http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/

North Carolina

http://www.ncdhhs.gov/

North Dakota

http://www.nd.gov/dhs/services/childfamily

Ohio

http://jfs.ohio.gov/county/cntydir.html

Oklahoma

Toll-Free:      (800) 522-3511

http://www.okdhs.org/programsandservices

Oregon

http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/children/abuse

Pennsylvania

Toll-Free:     (800) 932-0313

http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/forfamilies/childwelfareservices link

Rhode Island

Toll-Free:      (800) RI-CHILD (800-742-4453)

http://www.dcyf.ri.gov/child_welfare

South Carolina

Local (toll):     (803) 898-7318

http://dss.sc.gov/content/customers/protection

South Dakota

http://dss.sd.gov/cps/protective/reporting.asp

Tennessee

Toll-Free:     (877) 237-0004

http://tennessee.gov/youth/childsafety

Texas

Toll-Free:    (800) 252-5400

www.dfps.state.tx.us/child_protection/

Utah

Toll-Free:     (800) 678-9399

http://www.hsdcfs.utah.gov/

Vermont

After hours:   (800) 649-5285

http://dcf.vermont.gov/

Virginia

Toll-Free:     (800) 552-7096

Local (toll):    (804) 786-8536

http://www.dss.virginia.gov/family

Washington

TTY:          (800) 624-6186

Toll-Free:    (800) 562-5624

(866) END-HARM  (866-363-4276)

http://www.dshs.wa.gov/ca/safety/abuse

West Virginia

http://www.wvdhhr.org/

Wisconsin

http://dcf.wisconsin.gov/children

Wyoming

http://dfsweb.state.wy.us/