Why Report?
Research shows that most child abuse involves people responsible for taking care of the child, such as parents, family or household members, or other caregivers.
You may be the only person who can begin to make life better for an abused or neglected child.
Please click all 3 buttons and read the information under them.
When you're finished with this page, click on the blue "Who Must Report?" tab near the top of the page.
Childhood abuse creates lifelong problems
Children learn to think, speak, and reason when they are very young. The human relationships that children form make a big difference in their social and emotional development. Children who have secure, trusting relationships with their parents or guardians when they are young grow up much differently than children who learn at a young age that they can’t trust anyone.
Abuse can slow brain development
When children are mistreated, it can stop or slow their brain development. Witnessing frequent parental fights and growing up with alcohol or drug abuse, mental illness, physical violence, or crime in the home can make the child unable to pay attention, control his or her behavior, trust others, show compassion, or make friends.
The picture on the left shows a healthy, emotionally developed brain. The picture on the right shows the result of abuse and neglect. The dark areas show where the brain is inactive or undeveloped.