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:
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: 765-662-3575
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
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 |
About Child Abuse
| First Light Child Advocacy Center of Grant County |
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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
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