Reporting Abuse

I received an email from one of my readers asking what she should do in a situation where she thought she was witnessing neglect of a child. It made me realize that there are a lot of people in the same situation. They think that a neighbor, friend or family member might be abusing or neglecting their children. My suggestion is to follow your instincts. If you truly think that what you are seeing (or hearing) is child abuse then don't hesitate to report it. The Department of Child and Family Services will investigate the report and you can remain anonymous.

We all have a tendency not to want to get involved. One of the questions encountered is "what if I am wrong?" My response to that is always "what if you are not?" The only caution that I would add to this is that everyone should remember that we all parent our children differently. When you witness a situation involving a child and a parent that makes you uncomfortable, remember that just because someone chooses to parent in a different way does not mean that it is abuse. Abuse means that the child is being harmed physically, placed in danger (i.e. being left alone at a young age), or not having their basic needs met. If you are witnessing a situation that you need to report the number is available in your phone book under the listing of State Government.

Stressful life situations often lead to bad judgment in parenting. If you know someone who is having trouble coping, offer to help. Baby-sit for an hour or a weekend. Help them locate resources that they need, or just lend an ear when they need to talk. There are many ways to get involved and make a difference.

If we could all be a little less afraid to speak out and a little quicker to reach out, it would be a better world for our children.

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