It's unknown how many cases of child abuse or neglect aren't reported every year, but experts know cases are underreported. More often than not, somebody saw or heard something suspicious but didn't do anything about it.
Most child abuse and neglect happens behind closed doors, so the signs aren't always obvious and often fall into a gray area. You may see a child with multiple unexplained bruises. Maybe it's a little boy wandering around your neighborhood alone. Or maybe you see a stranger lose their cool at the grocery store, and she smacks her kid.
Warning signs that a child is being abused or neglected:
The child is unhappy or hungry frequently
There are unexplained bruises, burns or sores on the child
The child wears dirty or ill-fitting clothes on a regular basis
The child misses a lot of school
There are unsupervised children outside or being left home alone
The child talks about family violence
The parent or child is harming animals or pets.
The child is expressing fear of something or someone
The child has trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or is having nightmares.
Sources: Suzanne Schunk, director of family-support services for Southwest Human Development; American Humane Association
Numbers to call:
911, if the abuse is happening in public or needs police attention
1-888-SOS-CHILD, Child Protective Services Hotline
*For more information read original story on AZCentral.com
Comments
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