#ChildAbuseAwareness #ChildSafety #ReportingAbuse #HelpingChildren #CPS
🚨 Serious: should I call someone about a little girl that brought me a drawing with the words “help me she hurts me” up to me?
You did the right thing by calling CPS. It’s always better to be safe and report any potential signs of abuse, especially when it comes to children. Here’s some more information about what you can do in these situations and how to recognize signs of child abuse.
**Recognizing the Signs of Child Abuse**
When a child is being abused, they may not always have visible bruises or injuries. It’s important to be aware of other signs that may indicate abuse, such as:
1. Changes in behavior – sudden aggression, withdrawal, or fearfulness
2. Physical signs – unexplained bruises, burns, or injuries
3. Emotional distress – frequent nightmares, bedwetting, or depression
4. Poor hygiene or malnourishment
5. Inappropriate sexual behavior or knowledge
**What to Do if You Suspect Child Abuse**
If you suspect that a child is being abused, it’s crucial to take action. Here are steps you can take to help a child in need:
1. Report to the authorities – Call Child Protective Services or your local law enforcement to report your concerns. Provide as much information as you can, including the child’s name, address, and any details about the potential abuse.
2. Offer support – If you feel comfortable doing so, offer support to the child in a gentle and non-invasive way. Let them know that they can talk to you if they need help.
3. Educate yourself – Learn more about the signs of child abuse and how to recognize when a child is in danger. This will help you be more prepared to take action if you encounter a similar situation in the future.
**The Importance of Reporting**
Reporting suspected child abuse is crucial in protecting children from harm. By reporting your concerns, you may be able to prevent further abuse and provide support to a child in need.
It’s important to remember that reporting is not accusing. It’s simply bringing attention to a situation that may require intervention to ensure the safety and well-being of a child.
In conclusion, it’s never a bad idea to call someone if you suspect a child is in danger. Your actions may have already helped this little girl, and your willingness to help can make a significant difference in the lives of vulnerable children. Thank you for taking the initiative to report your concerns, and let’s continue to advocate for the safety and well-being of all children.
Call CPS. It isn’t your problem to solve so let someone else solve it.
I would report it to Child Protective Services or whatever the equivalent is in your area. If there is nothing bad going on, no one’s life will be “ruined”.
It would not be a bad idea to call the police or child protective services and report what happened. If there’s really nothing happening, the family’s life will not be ruined. It is not normal or developmentally appropriate for a five year old to spontaneously come up to a stranger and give them messages like this.
Yep. Call your local CPS and explain the situation. They will take it from there.
Thanks for taking her seriously.
It is better to report and have it be nothing than to ignore it and have it be something.
I had to call cps once on a family that “seemed” lovely. They had two daughters, we didn’t see the older one often. They invited me over to dinner and that’s when I saw her. The 3 yo was well dress and no visible bruises but she was all bones and extremely smaller than her 18month old sister. She gobbled up the food in front of her like she hadn’t eaten in days.
I felt so terrible for calling cps but later they called me to update me. The oldest was extremely malnourished and he was beating his wife. They took away both kids. They are living with her grandparents now. So glad you called cps. It’s better to do something and it be a false alarm than not do anything at all.
OP: if it helps ease your mind any, I had CPS called on me once by a malicious vindictive dude. They came to my door, came in, looked around, asked me some questions, asked my son some questions, then asked me if I knew anybody who might be trying to cause me trouble.
Ie, they investigated, saw no indicators of anything amiss, then thanked me for my time and left. I never heard from them again.
So, it was quite a scare of course, but it did not ruin my life. They were reasonable people.
definitely don’t dismiss that – glad u called cps
Thanks for taking that up!!
I called CPS on my daughter’s friend. They were about 10 years old. She would come over and have puncture wounds on her face. I asked her what happened, said they were from her mom’s rings from punching her. Eventually she was removed from the home.
You did the right thing. Trust me! That little girl trusted you! Good job
Many states also have online options for reporting where you’re able to fill out an online form or send an email, if you’re feeling nervous about calling. It also helps to collect the information you know and jot it down. You don’t have to have all of the information. You don’t have to know anything other than what you witnessed.
Best wishes to you
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But you did he right thing, let the professionals do their job.