What are some signs of child abuse or neglect?

If you know or suspect that a child has been abused, neglected, or exploited, contact your local law enforcement and/or child protective services agency as soon as possible. You may also call the toll-free child abuse hotline in your state. If your state does not have a hotline, call the National Child Abuse Hotline.

The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline can be reached at 1.800.4.A.CHILD (1.800.422.4453).

If you believe you have information about the domestic trafficking of children for sex within the U.S., you may report the exploitation online to the Innocence Lost National Initiative or by calling 1.800.THE.LOST (1.800.843.5678).

The following signs may signal the presence of child abuse or neglect.

The child:

• Shows sudden changes in behavior or school performance
• Has not received help for physical or medical problems brought to the parents' attention
• Has learning problems (or difficulty concentrating) that cannot be attributed to specific physical or psychological causes
• Is always watchful, as though preparing for something bad to happen
• Lacks adult supervision
• Is overly compliant, passive, or withdrawn
• Comes to school or other activities early, stays late, and does not want to go home

The parent:

• Shows little concern for the child
• Denies the existence of, or blames the child for, the child's problems in school or at home
• Asks teachers or other caretakers to use harsh physical discipline if the child misbehaves
• Sees the child as entirely bad, worthless, or burdensome
• Demands a level of physical or academic performance the child cannot achieve
• Looks primarily to the child for care, attention, and satisfaction of emotional needs

The parent and child:

• Rarely touch or look at each other
• Consider their relationship entirely negative
• State that they do not like each other

For more information on child abuse, please view answers to frequently asked questions on the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) website.

Finally, April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect and encourage individuals and communities to support children and families.

Additional Resources:

• Report Child Pornography
• National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
• Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE)
• Important Phone Numbers Related to Children and Family Issues
• Child Welfare Information Gateway