HOW DO I KNOW WHEN TO REPORT?

• Neglect - Failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, supervision or medical care to the degree a child's health or safety are endangered.  Examples:  Child is left alone with no supervision.  Child does not want to leave school.  Child is constantly tired.  Child has unmet physical, emotional or medical needs.
  
• Physical Injury - Not a result of an accident.  Examples: Bruises, welts, burns, cuts, broken bones, bites, sprains, poisoning.  Child's story does not match the injury.  Child's story changes with retelling.
  
• Mental Injury - A pattern of rejecting, terrorizing, ignoring, isolating.  Examples: Children often have sleep or speech disorders, fail to grow normally, are aggressive or withdrawn or show abnormal need for emotional support.
  
• Threat of Harm - Any action, statement, written, or non-verbal message which is serious enough to make a child believe s/he is in danger of being abused.  Examples: Threatening to cause pain or injury.  A child witnessing domestic violence.  Adult sex offender moving in, returning to, or living with/care taking children under 18.
  
• Sexual Abuse and Exploitation - Any sexual contact in which a child is used to sexually stimulate another person.  In the majority of cases the perpetrator is known to the child, often in a trusted relationship.  The abuser establishes a secret, intimate relationship with the child, threatening her/him if they tell.  Contributing to sexual delinquency of a minor, using children in pornography or prostitution.