Responding to Child Abuse
Tennessee Code Annotated: §37-1-403. All persons (including doctors, mental health professionals, child care providers, dentists, family members, and friends) must report suspected child abuse or neglect. Failure to report child abuse or neglect is a violation of the law.
DONT OVERREACT
LISTEN & SUPPORT
AVOID QUESTIONING
Make the REPORT
Child Abuse Reporting Hotline: (877) 54A-BUSE
Signs of Child Abuse
Below are indicators of child abuse that can include but are not limited to these signs. Some signs are more obvious than others. Trust your instincts! Suspicion of abuse is enough reason to call the hotline. You do not need proof.
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 Abused children often appear scared, anxious, depressed, withdrawn, or more aggressive.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.
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.
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
Frequent nightmares or having difficulty falling asleep which may result in the child appearing tired or fatigued.
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.
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.
150 Blountville Bypass
Blountville, TN 37617
Phone: 423.279.1222
Fax: 423.212.2260
©2010-2018 Children's Advocacy Center of Sullivan County. All Rights Reserved.Funding is provided through grants, local government, and generous donations from individuals, businesses, and organizations. All services to child victims and their non-offending caregivers are provided at no cost. All donations to the Children's Advocacy Center are tax deductible due to our 501(c)(3) status.