| Every citizen has the moral responsibility to inform | | | | think is child abuse, fearing that you could be wrong |
| the authorities if he or she suspects that a child is | | | | and your complaint may cause unnecessary trouble |
| being abused. For some people it is mandatory to | | | | for others. Or it could be that the adults in question |
| report suspected cases of child abuse. These include | | | | are your friends, family members or neighbors, and |
| professionals like social workers, clergy members, | | | | you hesitate because you know that your telephone |
| educators, mental health professionals, doctors, and | | | | call to the relevant authorities will cause a lot of |
| members of the law enforcement, but you too can | | | | tension. In such cases, always remember that what |
| make a complaint if you have reason enough to | | | | you are doing is in the best interest of the child, and |
| suspect that a child is being ill-treated. | | | | if the little one is being subjected to abuse, then he |
| Before you lodge a complaint, you must understand | | | | or she must be saved. |
| that this is a serious matter, and hence you must | | | | Child abuse must be reported to your local Child |
| have all your facts ready before you report child | | | | Protection Services or CPS office. In case of an |
| abuse of any kind. Make thorough notes of all details, | | | | emergency, like when you can hear the child |
| like names, dates and all relevant details of what you | | | | screaming for help, you can call 911, and if you would |
| may have witnessed, like marks on the child's body. | | | | rather remain anonymous and still report child abuse, |
| It is quite normal if you hesitate to report what you | | | | call the child help national hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child. |