How To Respond

Know What to Do When a Child Discloses Abuse

When a child tells you they have been abused, your response matters more than you may realize. Your words, actions, and ability to stay calm can either encourage healing—or create additional fear and confusion.

At The Children’s Advocacy Center of Sullivan County (CAC), we want you to feel confident and prepared to help. This page will guide you through how to respond appropriately, compassionately, and legally when a child discloses abuse.

Don't Overreact

• Stay calm.
•Your reaction may frighten and confuse the child.

Avoid Questioning

•Asking questions could jeopardize the investigative process.
•The child will be referred to a specially trained child abuse professional to conduct a forensic interview.

Listen & Support

•Believe the child.
•Thank the child for telling you, and praise the child’s courage.

Make The Report

•Reporting suspected abuse can protect a child – it may even save a life.
•All Tennessee residents are mandated to report suspected child abuse:
Child Abuse Hotline: 877-237-0004

Child Abuse Reporting Hotline: 877-237-0004

Click Here To Report Abuse Online

Signs of Child Abuse

Unexplained Injuries

Visible signs of physical abuse may include unexplained burns or bruises in the shape of objects. You may also hear unconvincing explanations of injuries.

Changes in Behavior

Abuse can lead to many changes in a child’s behavior. Abused children often appear scared, anxious, depressed, withdrawn, or more aggressive.

Returning to Earlier Behavior

Abused children may display behaviors shown at earlier ages such as thumb-sucking, bed-wetting, fear of the dark or strangers, loss of acquired language, or memory problems.

Changes in School Performance and Attendance

Abused children may have difficulty concentrating in school or have excessive absences, sometimes due to adults trying to hide the children’s injuries from authorities.

Changes in Eating

The stress, fear, and anxiety caused by abuse can lead to changes in a child’s eating behaviors, which may result in weight gain or weight loss.

Changes in Sleeping

The child may have frequent nightmares or have difficulty falling asleep which may result in the child appearing tired or fatigued.

Fear of Going Home

Abused children may express apprehension or anxiety about leaving school or about going places with the person who is abusing them.

Lack of Personal Care or Hygiene

Abused and neglected children may appear uncared for. They may present as consistently dirty and have severe body odor, or they may lack sufficient clothing for the weather.

Risk-taking Behaviors

Young people who are being abused may engage in high-risk activities such as using drugs or alcohol or carrying a weapon.

Inappropriate Sexual Behavior

Children who have been sexually abused may exhibit overly sexualized behavior or use explicit sexual language.

Join Us Today In Lending A Helping Hand

Let’s stand together to protect and heal our children—because every child deserves to feel safe, supported, and hopeful.