All children have the right to grow up in a safe environment. Child abuse, in all its forms, has a more lasting and negative effect on children, families and the whole community than most people realize. its worst, its destructive impact haunts its victim throughout life and prevents the child from becoming a productive adult. Frequently, parents who were mistreated as children will mistreat their own children.

When a person notifies the Department of Children's Services regarding possible abuse or neglect of a child, Children's Services social work staff determines how quickly to proceed with an investigation by assessing the referral information and focusing on the present and future risks to the child. Considering the condition of the child and the risk of future maltreatment helps a social worker determine how quickly to respond to a CPS referral and what priority to assign that referral.

The Family Protection Department (FPD) is your first option and has authority to investigate the reported case. The Family Protection Department is a division of the Public Security Directorate that deals with sensitive issues related to domestic violence and child abuse. Its role is to investigate, prevent and reduce child abuse, sexual abuse and domestic violence utilizing a victim-centered and human rights based approach.

The following are suggestions of the types of information/questions we ask for. Please do not hesitate to make a report if you have incomplete information. How the reporter came to know the information and the reporter's thoughts about the likelihood of further harm to the child(ren).

The staff of the Family Protection Department investigates the reported case socially (social workers), medically (forensic medicine) and psychologically (when required). The results of the initial investigation are discussed with partners through a preliminary case conference and the decision is made to whether the case requires immediate protection service or not.

In Siskiyou County, call the Child Abuse Hotline at (530) 842-7009. You can also contact the Children's Services office at (530) 841-4200 during regular business hours. If you suspect a child is in immediate danger, call law enforcement at 911. If the abuse is occurring in another county or state, call the child protective services agency for that area.

Call the child abuse hotline at 909-384-9233(San Bernardino area) or 1-800-827-8724 (outside of San Bernardino). Complete a Suspected Child Abuse Report (SS 8572 Rev 12/02) per child that you report and fax it to 909-891-3545 or 909-891-3560. We do not need you to mail the original. If you do not have access to a fax machine, mail the form attention: Child Abuse Hotline, 412 W. Hospitality Lane, San Bernardino CA 92415-0029.

If you suspect abuse or neglect of a child it should be reported to Arizona Child Protective Services at 1-888-767-2445.

It is repeated mistreatment or neglect of a child by parent(s) or other guardian resulting in injury or harm. Under California Law, child abuse is a crime. Children need protection because they are vulnerable and often unable to speak for themselves. The California Child Abuse Reporting Law, along with other state laws, provides the legal basis for action to protect children and allow intervention by public agencies if a child is maltreated.

If you suspect that an Orange County child is being abused, neglected or abandoned, please call the Child Abuse Registry at (714) 940-1000. Help is available 24-hours a day, 365 days a year.

Any person who reasonably suspects that a child is a victim of child abuse must report this information to the Division of Youth and Family Services.

Children should tell a person they can trust, such as a parent, teacher, relative or friend, if they are being abused, even if they are worried about what might happen next.

A Answers to this question and others are provided in this Child Protection Services Guide Child Protection Services -- A Guide for Parents [pdf, 66Kb] A This is the very reason the Larimer County Hub exists. Services can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling (970) 498-6990. Our staff is always available to offer support and options for how to proceed when you family is struggling.

No, all persons who report suspected child abuse remain anonymous. The name can be released only by court order. However, the parents may guess, based on the information provided, who reported the abuse.

Any citizen who suspects that a child has been abused and/or neglected is required to report the incident. Human Services workers, law enforcement officers, health practitioners and educators are required by law to report the incident. Verbal reports must be followed by a written report within 48 hours. Failure to report can result in certain professional sanctions.

Reports of suspected child abuse or maltreatment should be made immediately -- at any time of the day and on any day of the week -- by telephone to the New York Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (sometimes referred to as the State Central Register or SCR).