What is child abuse and neglect?

When a parent, guardian, or custodian inflicts or allows the infliction of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, neglect, exploitation, or abandonment.

 

• Physical abuse includes non-accidental physical injuries such as bruises, broken bones, burns, cuts, or other injuries.

 

• Sexual abuse occurs when sex acts are performed with children. Using children in pornography, prostitution, or other sexual activity is also sexual abuse.

 

• Neglect occurs when children are not given necessary care for illness or injury. Neglect also includes leaving young children unsupervised or alone, locked in or out of the house, or without adequate clothing, food, or shelter. Allowing children to live in a very dirty house which could be a health hazard, may also be considered neglect.

 

• Emotional abuse of a child is evidenced by severe anxiety, depression, withdrawal, or improper aggressive behavior as diagnosed by a medical doctor or psychologist and caused by the acts or omissions of the parent or caretaker.

 

• Exploitation means using a child by a parent, guardian, or custodian for material gain.

 

• Abandonment means the failure of the parent to provide reasonable support and to maintain regular contact with the child, including providing normal supervision, when such failure is intentional and continues for an indefinite period.

 

What can I report?

There are four commonly recognized forms of child abuse.

 

• Physical Abuse is characterized by any non-accidental bodily injury that results from punching, beating, kicking, biting, shaking, throwing, stabbing, choking, hitting, burning, shoving, etc.

 

• Sexual Abuse is any sexual act involving a child, which includes sexual acts between children.

 

• Neglect occurs when there is a failure to provide for a child's physical needs. This includes lack of supervision, inappropriate housing, inadequate provision of food, inappropriate clothing, abandonment, or denial of medical care.

 

• Emotional Abuse is an attitude or behavior which interferes with a child's mental health or social development.

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Who must report?

Any person who reasonably believes that a minor is or has been the victim of physical injury, abuse, child abuse, a reportable offense, or neglect that appears to have been inflicted on the minor by other than accidental means or that is not explained by the available medical history as being accidental in nature, or who reasonably believes that there has been a denial or deprivation of necessary medical treatment or surgical care or nourishment with the intent to cause or allow the death of an infant who is protected under A.R.S. § 36-2281, shall immediately report or cause reports to be made of this information to a peace officer or the Department of Child Safety, except if the report concerns a person who does not have care, custody or control of the minor, the report shall be made to a peace office only.

 

The following persons are required by law to report:

• Any physician, physician's assistant, optometrist, dentist, osteopath, chiropractor, podiatrist, behavioral health professional, nurse, psychologist, counselor, or social worker who develops a reasonable belief in the course of treating a patient.

• Any peace officer, clergy member, priest, or Christian Science practitioner.

• The parent, stepparent, or guardian of the minor.

• School personnel or domestic violence victim advocates who develop reasonable belief in the course of their employment.

• Any other person is responsible for the minor's care or treatment.

 

A person making a report or providing information about a child is immune from civil or criminal liability unless such person has been charged with, or is suspected of, the abuse or neglect in question. A person acting with malice who knowingly or intentionally makes a false report of child abuse and neglect or who coerces another person to make a false report is guilty of a crime. A person who knowingly and intentionally falsely accuses another of maliciously making a false report of child abuse and neglect is also guilty of a crime.

 

 

When to report?

A report should be made when any person reasonably believes a child under 18 has been abused, neglected, exploited, or abandoned. A report of suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, or abandonment is only a request for an investigation. The person making the report does not need to prove the abuse. Investigation and validation of child abuse reports are the responsibilities of child protective service workers. If additional incidents of abuse occur after the initial report has been made, make another report.

 

 

How is abuse reported?

A report can be made to the D.C.S. Statewide Toll-Free Child Abuse Hotline at 1-888-767-2445 (1-888-SOS-CHILD) or law enforcement office. When reporting, the following information, if known, will be requested:

 

• name, age, and gender of the child and other family members

• address, phone numbers, and/or directions to the child's home

• parents' place of employment

• description of suspected abuse or neglect

• the current condition of the child

 

 

What happens when abuse/neglect is reported?

While reporting abuse or neglect, you will speak directly with a skilled social work professional. You will be asked for information about the child, the nature of your concerns, the present location of the child, and the family with whom the child lives. If a report is warranted, then assigned to a D.C.S. Field Specialist then will investigate the report through interviews with all children in the home, parents, friends, relatives, and any other person who may have information about the child and family. After an investigation, if D.C.S. has reason to believe that a parent, guardian, or custodian abused or neglected a child and intends to confirm this, a letter will be sent to the person accused explaining how an appeal of this decision may be requested and how to get a copy of the D.C.S. report.

 

If you suspect a child under the age of 18 is being abused or neglected or is at risk for abuse or neglect, you should make a report to your local county Department of Social Services. 

 

• Contact Law Enforcement (911)

• Contact Department of Child Safety:  In Maricopa County, call the Department of Child Safety Hotline: 1.800.422.4453

• Provide support for the victim

• Do NOT question the child

• Do NOT show emotion or make comments (positive or negative)

• Do NOT contact the offender

• Do NOT conduct an "independent investigation"

• Do NOT force the victim to confront the offender

• Do NOT allow the accused to confront the victim