In every state, the following people are required by law to report suspected abuse: Doctors; nurses; dentists; mental health professionals; social workers; teachers; day care workers; law enforcement personnel. In some states, clergy, foster parents, attorneys, and camp counselors also are required to report abuse. In about 18 states, any person who suspects abuse is required to report it.

For the legal definition of child abuse, mandatory reporting laws, immunity for reporters,  reporting procedures, and more, see this child abuse website.

Why is it mandatory?  Because most people do not want to get involved in "family matters".  They look the other way, feeling that discipline is best left to the parents of the child.  There is a line between discipline and abuse.  Discipline corrects a child, abuse hurts the child's development and physical and mental health. 

Abuse is not a new concept.  What is new is its awareness, learning that something is wrong.  People are getting educated more about it, and report it more.  More children are getting saved because someone reported something wrong.  In society today, people complain that if you spank a child, you can get slammed with abuse charges.  They minimize the reality of abuse.  They think children today have their parents under control with threats of reporting abuse.  Dang, if only it were that easy to us, the victims of very real abuse!  To hear as adults that "kids today..." really makes us feel terrible and invalidated.  Abuse is real, and it's not talk show fodder, but a terrible secret kids have to life with.

A couple books to read and offer the child to read are "Sometimes It's OK To Tell Secrets" by Robin Lenett, Dana Bartheleme, Bob Crane; and "My Body Is Private" by Linda Walvoord Girard.

Every day I would pray that someone would come and save me, that I would get adopted into a nice, loving family and be safe, finally.  It didn't happen like that, even though I knew people knew something was wrong.  When the school reported abuse to the CPS, they saw no evidence, the bruises had healed or there was no visible mark.  They talked to the parents and when I would get home, worse was waiting for me for telling.  So what can you do to ensure the child will be saved?

Evidence, evidence, evidence:   CPS needs to see that a child is in danger of losing their life or their safety is threatened.  Take pictures of every mark, no matter how small, or faint.  Write down and record when they were made or when you saw them, where on the body they appear.  Ask neighbors and other teachers, clergy, the child's friends, anyone who might also have seen evidence of abuse.  Be careful when asking family members of the abusers, as they may alert the parents to your efforts.  The more witnesses the firmer the testimony.  Record the child's behavior around other adults and children if you are a teacher or clergy.  Provide medical reports if you treated the child in health care.

If you are a neighbor or family member, and you cannot do any of these things, the best you can do is provide a safe refuge.  Providing a meal and a place to hide out sometimes means the world to a child.  When I was locked out of the house and half-starved, a neighbor opened her doors to me all the time, and gave me a good meal, a safe refuge, and an outpouring of support.

The best way to stop child abuse is to prevent it from happening at all.

Some Signs of Abuse

• Withdrawn
• Difficulty relating to peers
• Flinches, jumpy
• Wears clothing inappropriate for the season
• Poorly groomed
• Poor grades, of suddenly fluctuating grades
• Draws violent pictures
• Unusually knowledgeable about sex
• Impulsive/hyperactive
• Lashes out in anger
• Bullied by peers
• Frequently injured
• Looks malnourished
• Overly compliant, passive
• Reluctance to go home
• Shrinks when adults approach
• Frequently late or absent from school
• Begs or steals food or money
• Runs away from home