| REPORT ABUSE |
Suspected child abuse or
neglect should be reported to
Department of Child Services
If for some reason you are
unable to get through, you
may also contact your local
law enforcement agency to
report abuse or neglect.
Local Police Department:
Marion: 765-662-9981
Gas City: 765-674-2278
Fairmount: 765-948-4400
Jonesboro: 765-674-6963
Swayzee: 765-922-4585
Sweetser: 765-384-5333
Van Buren: 765-934-2251
Upland: 765-998-2862
In an emergency dial 911!
When you call DCS, it is
important that you have as
much information in front of
you as possible, such as
name, ages of each child,
address, and phone number.
You may call without this
information, but it helps DCS
to quickly investigate. When
you are describing a
situation, remain calm and
maintain a "factual" manner
with dates, eyewitness
observations and direct
conversations. Bias language
is often a "red flag" for a DCS
report, which is why it is
important to keep you report
factual.
Remember, Indiana law
REQUIRES the reporting of
suspected child abuse and
neglect. Callers can remain
anonymous and are immune
from all civil and criminal
liability, provided they have
made the report in good faith.
neglect should be reported to
Department of Child Services
- National Child Abuse
Hot line: 1-800-4-A-
CHILD (1-800-422-
4453) available 24hrs - Indiana Child Abuse
(24hr hot line):1-800-
800-5556 - Domestic Violence Hot
line: 1-800-799-7233 - Grant County
Department of Child
Service: 1-800-800-
5556
If for some reason you are
unable to get through, you
may also contact your local
law enforcement agency to
report abuse or neglect.
Local Police Department:
Marion: 765-662-9981
Gas City: 765-674-2278
Fairmount: 765-948-4400
Jonesboro: 765-674-6963
Swayzee: 765-922-4585
Sweetser: 765-384-5333
Van Buren: 765-934-2251
Upland: 765-998-2862
In an emergency dial 911!
When you call DCS, it is
important that you have as
much information in front of
you as possible, such as
name, ages of each child,
address, and phone number.
You may call without this
information, but it helps DCS
to quickly investigate. When
you are describing a
situation, remain calm and
maintain a "factual" manner
with dates, eyewitness
observations and direct
conversations. Bias language
is often a "red flag" for a DCS
report, which is why it is
important to keep you report
factual.
Remember, Indiana law
REQUIRES the reporting of
suspected child abuse and
neglect. Callers can remain
anonymous and are immune
from all civil and criminal
liability, provided they have
made the report in good faith.
What is Child Abuse
Indiana Code 31-34-1 states "...the child's physical or mental health is
seriously endangered due to injury by the act or omission of the child's
parent, guardian, or custodian."
Non-Legal definition - any non-accidental injury caused by a child's caretaker.
Physical abuse - Any non-accidental injury to a child. This includes hitting,
kicking, slapping, shaking, burning, pinching, hair pulling, biting, choking, throwing,
shoving, whipping, and paddling.
Sexual abuse - Any sexual act between an adult and child. This includes fondling,
penetration, intercourse, exploitation, pornography, exhibitionism, child
prostitution, group sex, oral sex, or forced observation of sexual acts.
Neglect - Failure to provide for a child's physical needs. This includes lack of
supervision, inappropriate housing or shelter, inadequate provision of food,
inappropriate clothing for season or weather, abandonment, denial of medical
care, and inadequate hygiene.
Emotional abuse - Any attitude or behavior which interferes with a child's mental
health or social development. This includes yelling, screaming, name-calling,
shaming, negative comparisons to others, telling them they are "bad, no good,
worthless" or "a mistake". It also includes the failure to provide the affection and
support necessary for the development of a child's emotional, social, physical and
intellectual well-being. This includes ignoring, lack of appropriate physical affection
(hugs), not saying "I love you", withdrawal of attention, lack of praise, and lack of
positive reinforcement.
seriously endangered due to injury by the act or omission of the child's
parent, guardian, or custodian."
Non-Legal definition - any non-accidental injury caused by a child's caretaker.
Physical abuse - Any non-accidental injury to a child. This includes hitting,
kicking, slapping, shaking, burning, pinching, hair pulling, biting, choking, throwing,
shoving, whipping, and paddling.
Sexual abuse - Any sexual act between an adult and child. This includes fondling,
penetration, intercourse, exploitation, pornography, exhibitionism, child
prostitution, group sex, oral sex, or forced observation of sexual acts.
Neglect - Failure to provide for a child's physical needs. This includes lack of
supervision, inappropriate housing or shelter, inadequate provision of food,
inappropriate clothing for season or weather, abandonment, denial of medical
care, and inadequate hygiene.
Emotional abuse - Any attitude or behavior which interferes with a child's mental
health or social development. This includes yelling, screaming, name-calling,
shaming, negative comparisons to others, telling them they are "bad, no good,
worthless" or "a mistake". It also includes the failure to provide the affection and
support necessary for the development of a child's emotional, social, physical and
intellectual well-being. This includes ignoring, lack of appropriate physical affection
(hugs), not saying "I love you", withdrawal of attention, lack of praise, and lack of
positive reinforcement.
Why Does Child Abuse Happen?
Signs and Symptoms of Abuse
 | Lack of parenting knowledge | |
| A child who is seen as | |
| different or special | ||
| A family that is socially | |
| isolated | ||
| A major crisis or a series of | |
| crises; | ||
| Parents who have unmet | |
| emotional needs | ||
| Adults who were abused or | |
| neglected as children and did not receive help for their childhood abuse; | ||
| Lack of childcare | |
| arrangements for children too young to be left alone |
| First Light Child Advocacy Center of Grant County |
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Ten Reasons to Prevent Child Abuse:
1) Child abuse can be fatal. Each year, an average of three children a day are
fatal victims of maltreatment. The vast majority of these children are under the
age of one. In Indiana in 2003, there were 51 children who died as a result of
child abuse and neglect. For more details of the deaths in Indiana, click here.
2) Child abuse stymies a child's normal growth and development. The emotional
and physical damage children suffer from abuse and neglect is extensive.
Documented consequences of abuse include chronic health problems, cognitive
and language disorders, and socio-emotional problems, such as low
self-esteem, lack of trust, and poor relationships with adults and peers.
3) Child abuse is costly for many social institutions. Remediation of the
immediate consequences of serious physical abuse alone costs child welfare
agencies, hospitals, and rehabilitation facilities millions of dollars annually. For a
detailed report on the costs of child abuse, click here.
4) Child abuse costs continue to multiply over time. For example, children killed
as a result of abuse or neglect never have the opportunity to contribute to
society. In the past five years these deaths cost more than $3 billion in lost
future productivity.
5) Child abuse victims often repeat the violent acts that they experienced on
their own children. Although some victims can overcome the scars of their
abuse, child abuse victims are six times more likely to become abusive parents
than non-abused children are.
6) Treatment services, while critical, are often ineffective in permanently altering
parental behaviors. Program evaluations have found that even sophisticated
clinical demonstration projects, often consisting of weekly contact for twelve to
eighteen months, only eliminate the future likelihood for physical abuse or
neglect for less than half their clients.
7) Prevention programs targeted at parents before they become abusive or
neglectful reduce the likelihood for future maltreatment. Home visitor programs
for new parents have consistently demonstrated the most positive outcomes.
Specific gains include improved mother-infant bonding, enhanced parenting
skills, and more consistent use of health care services. Recipients of these
services also have demonstrated a reduced rate of child abuse when compared
to comparable groups of parents not receiving services.
8) Prevention programs targeted at children can improve a child's awareness of
how best to avoid child abuse and other unsafe practices. Repeated reviews of
numerous evaluations of these programs indicate that such efforts can result in
increased knowledge for children about safety rules and what they should do if
they are being abused. Further, the programs create an environment in which
children can more easily disclose prior or ongoing maltreatment.
9) Child abuse prevention efforts serve as a way to combat other social
problems of concern to the public and to policy makers. Research has found a
strong correlation between a history of abuse and a variety of adult problem
behaviors, including substance abuse, juvenile and adult crime, and poor social
adjustment. The consistent expansion of prevention services may well lead to
the eventual reduction of these problems.
10) Child abuse prevention creates a more compassionate society, one which
places a high value on the welfare of children. Insuring the safe and secure
rearing of the next generation requires the efforts of all policy makers and all
citizens. To the extent all are involved in the battle to prevent child abuse, all
are made more aware of the need to nurture human potential in all that we do.
Source: Dr. Deborah Daro, Prevent Child Abuse America
1) Child abuse can be fatal. Each year, an average of three children a day are
fatal victims of maltreatment. The vast majority of these children are under the
age of one. In Indiana in 2003, there were 51 children who died as a result of
child abuse and neglect. For more details of the deaths in Indiana, click here.
2) Child abuse stymies a child's normal growth and development. The emotional
and physical damage children suffer from abuse and neglect is extensive.
Documented consequences of abuse include chronic health problems, cognitive
and language disorders, and socio-emotional problems, such as low
self-esteem, lack of trust, and poor relationships with adults and peers.
3) Child abuse is costly for many social institutions. Remediation of the
immediate consequences of serious physical abuse alone costs child welfare
agencies, hospitals, and rehabilitation facilities millions of dollars annually. For a
detailed report on the costs of child abuse, click here.
4) Child abuse costs continue to multiply over time. For example, children killed
as a result of abuse or neglect never have the opportunity to contribute to
society. In the past five years these deaths cost more than $3 billion in lost
future productivity.
5) Child abuse victims often repeat the violent acts that they experienced on
their own children. Although some victims can overcome the scars of their
abuse, child abuse victims are six times more likely to become abusive parents
than non-abused children are.
6) Treatment services, while critical, are often ineffective in permanently altering
parental behaviors. Program evaluations have found that even sophisticated
clinical demonstration projects, often consisting of weekly contact for twelve to
eighteen months, only eliminate the future likelihood for physical abuse or
neglect for less than half their clients.
7) Prevention programs targeted at parents before they become abusive or
neglectful reduce the likelihood for future maltreatment. Home visitor programs
for new parents have consistently demonstrated the most positive outcomes.
Specific gains include improved mother-infant bonding, enhanced parenting
skills, and more consistent use of health care services. Recipients of these
services also have demonstrated a reduced rate of child abuse when compared
to comparable groups of parents not receiving services.
8) Prevention programs targeted at children can improve a child's awareness of
how best to avoid child abuse and other unsafe practices. Repeated reviews of
numerous evaluations of these programs indicate that such efforts can result in
increased knowledge for children about safety rules and what they should do if
they are being abused. Further, the programs create an environment in which
children can more easily disclose prior or ongoing maltreatment.
9) Child abuse prevention efforts serve as a way to combat other social
problems of concern to the public and to policy makers. Research has found a
strong correlation between a history of abuse and a variety of adult problem
behaviors, including substance abuse, juvenile and adult crime, and poor social
adjustment. The consistent expansion of prevention services may well lead to
the eventual reduction of these problems.
10) Child abuse prevention creates a more compassionate society, one which
places a high value on the welfare of children. Insuring the safe and secure
rearing of the next generation requires the efforts of all policy makers and all
citizens. To the extent all are involved in the battle to prevent child abuse, all
are made more aware of the need to nurture human potential in all that we do.
Source: Dr. Deborah Daro, Prevent Child Abuse America
PHYSICAL ABUSE
1. Unexplained burns, cuts, bruises, or
welts in the shape of an object
2. Bite marks
3. Anti-social behavior
4. Problems in school
5. Fear of adults
EMOTIONAL ABUSE
1. Apathy
2. Depression
3. Hostility or stress
4. Lack of concentration
5. Eating disorders
SEXUAL ABUSE
1. Inappropriate interest or knowledge
of sexual acts
2. Nightmares and bed wetting
3. Drastic changes in appetite
4. Over compliance or excessive
aggression
5. Fear of a particular person or family
member
NEGLECT
1. Unsuitable clothing for weather
2. Dirty or un bathed
3. Extreme hunger
4. Apparent lack of supervision
1. Unexplained burns, cuts, bruises, or
welts in the shape of an object
2. Bite marks
3. Anti-social behavior
4. Problems in school
5. Fear of adults
EMOTIONAL ABUSE
1. Apathy
2. Depression
3. Hostility or stress
4. Lack of concentration
5. Eating disorders
SEXUAL ABUSE
1. Inappropriate interest or knowledge
of sexual acts
2. Nightmares and bed wetting
3. Drastic changes in appetite
4. Over compliance or excessive
aggression
5. Fear of a particular person or family
member
NEGLECT
1. Unsuitable clothing for weather
2. Dirty or un bathed
3. Extreme hunger
4. Apparent lack of supervision
| First Light 707 N. River Dr. Suite B Marion, Indiana 46952 Phone: 765-668-8082 Fax: 765-668-8087 |
"We shall have no higher priority than to protect our children."
| Our Goals |
About Child Abuse