CHILD ABUSE

 

 

Protect a Child by Reporting Abuse

 Guidelines for Calling the Child Abuse Hotline

Child abuse/neglect is the mistreatment of a child under the age of 18. The abuse may be committed by a parent, caretaker, someone living in their home, someone who works with or around children.  The mistreatment must cause injury or must put the child at risk of injury. This injury may be physical, sexual, emotional or neglectful in nature.

  • Physical injury: causes or allows the child to be inflicted with non-accidental physical injury which causes death, disfigurement, impairment of physical or emotional health, or loss of impairment of any bodily functions (bruises, human bites, bone fractures, and burns, shaking, choking, smothering, throwing child / pushing child into objects, exposing child to known abuser, acts of torture, female genital mutilation.

  • Sexual injury: committing the following acts: sexual penetration, sexual exploitation, sexual molestation, transfer of STD.

  • Neglect: person responsible for the child deprives or fails to provide the child with adequate food, clothing, shelter, or needed medical treatment -- also includes inadequate supervision (left unsupervised or left in care of someone unable to supervise him/her.

Mandated reporters and all other persons should call the Hotline when they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been abused or neglected. The Hotline worker will determine if the information given by the reporter meets the legal requirement to initiate an investigation.

  • Criteria needed for a child abuse or neglect investigation

    • The alleged victim is a child under the age of 18 years.

    • The alleged perpetrator is a parent guardian, foster parent, relative caregiver, paramour, or any individual residing in the same home or any person responsible for the child's welfare at the tie of the alleged abuse or neglect.

    • There is a specific incident of abuse or neglect or a specific set of circumstances involving suspected abuse or neglect.

    • There is a demonstrated harm to the child or a substantial risk of physical or sexual injury to the child.

  • Who Is A Mandatory Reporter?

    • Medical Personnel

    • School and Child Care Personnel

    • Law Enforcement Personnel

    • Field Personnel of State Agencies

    • Other - Social Workers, Foster Parents, Homemakers, Psychologists, Recreational Program Personnel

    • Anyone who knows child in professional capacity

    • Reasonable cause to suspect child abuse / neglect

  • What Should Mandatory Reporters Submit?

    • All forms of child abuse / neglect as defined by state law

    • Incidents that cause mandatory reporter to "suspect" or have "reasonable cause to believe" abuse has occurred.

    • No burden of proof or investigation - only reporting.

  • What is Considered Child Abuse?

  • How Do I Report?

    • Verbal - immediately

    • Written - within 48 hours of verbal report

  • What Information Do I Need?

    • Child

      • Name

      • Current location and address

      • Birth date or approximate age

      • Nature of injury ( Physical abuse, sexual abuse, risk of harm, neglect or death)

    • Parents

      • Name

      • Current location and address

    • Caretaker (If other than parent)

      • Name

      • Current location and address

      • Relationship to child

    • Suspected Abuser

      • Name

      • Current location and address

      • Relationship to child

      • Approximation of age

    • Description of Incident (s) (Be prepared to give a brief description of the incident (s) of abuse. This description should include:

      • as much detail as you have about the actual incident

      • indication of intention (especially in physical abuse

      • description of the time and place of the incident

      • information, if any about possible witness to the abuse

      • evidence of abuse (physical evidence, behavioral indications, disclosure by the victim, etc.)

    • Other Information

      • Name, age and condition of other children in the household.

      • Condition of household members.

      • Names and addresses of others knowledgeable about child's circumstances.

    • Reporter

      • Name

      • Address

      • Phone #

Phone Numbers to Make a Report?

Iowa Residents - 1-800-362-2178 - Local Number - 326-8794 or 1-888-270-3864)

Illinois Residents - 1-800-252-2873

TTY 1-800-358-5117

(outside Illinois) - 217-524-2606

National Number - 1-800-422-4453

If a child is in immediate danger, call your local law enforcement agency.  Caution: DO NOT use e-mail to report child abuse or neglect. It causes delays and confidentiality may not be ensured.)