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If you are being hurt or made to
feel uncomfortable by an older child or adult, you can get help.
How can I get help if I am a child or teen who is being abused?
Call the National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453)
Some kids are afraid to report the abuse because they fear punishment,
loss of love, or family dishonor for telling a secret.
The hotline will make sure you are protected from further abuse or
secrecy. They will help you to report the abuse to an agency that will
make sure you are safe. The hotline staff members will call Child
Protective Services or the police and stay on the line in a three-way
call to help you talk to the agency.
The hotline can help you find ongoing support from caring adults. It is
not your fault that you are being abused, and you need help from other
adults to protect your safety while your family learns new ways to act
with each other.
You may wish to learn to protect yourself against someone who may try to
abuse you. Several organizations can teach you to say "No" with words
and by your actions.
How do I report suspected child abuse?
Many people don't know where to report suspected child abuse. Also, some
people are afraid of reporting child abuse because of possible
repercussions to the children or to themselves. In many states, it is
required by law for all citizens to report suspected abuse. Each state
has a different procedure for reporting abuse.
From any state, to get immediate guidance and help when you suspect
child abuse, call the Childhelp USA National Child Abuse
Hotline:1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453)
The National Child Abuse Hotline will give you the local agency for you
to call to report the incident. The abuse report must eventually go to
an agency within your own state.
You probably will be relieved to know that:
If you report child abuse, it is unlikely that the abused child will be
removed from their home immediately.
You do not have to give your name when you report child abuse, in most
states.
The child abuser cannot find out who reported them.
Remember that suspected abuse is sufficient reason to make a report to
authorities. You do not need proof. Your call may make the difference in
the very life of a child.
How do I get help if I think I may abuse a child, or if I have already
abused a child?
Call the National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453)
The hotline can talk you through a parenting or care taking crisis and
offer guidance about how to better handle the situation. You need help
and support. The hotline can find out about parenting support groups for
you to attend, or local counselors who can talk with you.
To educate yourself about discipline techniques that work better than
physical punishment, refer to the links at the end of this article.
I am a survivor of being abused as a child; where can I get help?
The National Child Abuse Hotline can lead you to a support group in your
community for survivors of child abuse, or they can offer one-on-one
support: 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453)
Child abuse is a trauma, and you may have developed post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD). You may find that you are more fearful than
other people, as if the traumatic event were occurring in the present.
You may also re-experience the trauma with flashbacks and nightmares.
And you may have become unresponsive and numb to other people and events
as a way of protecting yourself psychologically. Given support in a safe
environment and from caring individuals, you may be able to recover
psychologically.
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