
	HOME ABOUT US CHILD ABUSE/NEGLECT FOSTER CARE/ADOPT WAYS TO HELP LINKS URGENT NEEDS TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES ABOUT GO TO HEROES ABOUT RESPITE CARE ABOUT FOSTER CARE CURRENT EVENTS FORMS Ohio Child Abuse Hotline To report Child Abuse anywhere in the state of Ohio please call 855-OH-CHILD or 855-642-4453	CHILD ABUSE/NEGLECT REPORTING DEFINING ABUSE MANDATED REPORTERS WHAT TO DO REPORTING When should a report be made? It is better to make a report and let Children’s Services evaluate the risk a child is in than to let the abuse go unreported. Reports should be made when abuse is first suspected and all reports are taken seriously. Our agency is obligated to keep the name or identity of a reporter confidential throughout the investigative process. Reports are investigated by workers who are trained to investigate and evaluate if abuse or neglect has occurred, and then take appropriate measures if abuse or neglect is substantiated, to protect the child. If abuse or neglect is substantiated, counseling and parent support can be ordered in addition to removing the child from the home, when necessary, and placing the child with a relative/friend or foster provider while parents work a plan toward reunification. Helpful information to have available when making a report. • Names of all person living in the home, if known • Family’s address and phone number • Which child is the alleged child victim, if known • Date of birth/age of alleged child victim if known • Schools the children attend, if known • A summary of what suspected abuse or neglect has occurred Anyone who knows or suspects that a child has been or is at risk of being abused, neglected or dependent should make a report to the agency at (937) 335-4103, 8AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday and ask for the “Intake Department.” On weekends, holidays or after 5 PM, call 911. All referrals are confidential. Investigators have 24 hours to initiate a nonemergency investigation. The referral source will not be informed of investigation activities due to confidentiality. Return to top of page DEFINING ABUSE A child may suffer purposeful or accidental harm by a parent or caretaker. It is often difficult to separate physical and emotional abuse and neglect, as they frequently occur at the same time. Some common definitions of terms are as follows: Physical Abuse: non-accidental injuries, such as bruises, burns, welts, cuts and fractures inflicted by any person. Physical Neglect: failure to provide basic needs, such as food, medical care, clothing, and protection that a child needs for adequate growth and development. Emotional Abuse and Neglect: negative interaction between a parent and child, such as constant undue criticism, verbal abuse, ignoring the child or other forms of rejecting the child. Sexual Abuse: situations of sexual stimulation, incest and sexual exploitation which may include using children in pornographic films or photographs. Anyone who knows or suspects that a child has been or is at risk of being abused, neglected or dependent should make a report to the agency at (937) 335-4103, 8AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday and ask for the “Intake Department.” On weekends, holidays or after 5 PM, call 911. All referrals are confidential Return to top of page MANDATED REPORTERS “Ohio law requires some individuals to report concerns of child abuse, neglect and dependency to Miami County Children’s Services Board. These individuals include, but are not limited to: attorneys, law enforcement, medical/health care professionals, and school/day care personnel.” Who are the mandated reporters required by law to report alleged abuse and neglect? Attorneys Physicians Hospital intern/resident Health care professionals Dentists Licensed psychologists Speech pathologists or audiologists Administrator or employee of daycare center Employee of public/private children services agencies School Employee or authority Social worker Persons rendering spiritual treatment acting in an official/professional capacity Anyone who knows or suspects that a child has been or is at risk of being abused, neglected or dependent should make a report to the agency at (937) 335-4103, 8AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday and ask for the “Intake Department.” On weekends, holidays or after 5 PM, call 911. All referrals are confidential. Investigators have 24 hours to initiate a nonemergency investigation. The referral source will not be informed of investigation activities due to confidentiality. Return to top of page WHAT TO DO What do I do if I witness abuse in public places? If you see a child being abused in public, here are suggestions to help: Avoid negative looks or comments. This may only increase the adult’s anger, making things worse for the child. Divert the adult’s attention. Start a conversation with them, offering sympathy. For example, you could say, “Shopping with children can really try your patience, can’t it?” Talk to the child. If the child is acting out or misbehaving, start a friendly conversation to distract him or her. Praise the parent or child. Find something positive to say about either of them. For example, you could say, “That’s a pretty dress your daughter is wearing. Where did you get it?” Offer to help. For example, if a child has been left unattended in a grocery cart, stay near him or her until a caretaker returns. REMEMBER: Keep yourself safe and alert authorities if necessary. Contact law enforcement and/or local Children Services Agency. Return to top of page
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CHILD ABUSE/NEGLECT

REPORTING
DEFINING ABUSE
MANDATED REPORTERS
WHAT TO DO

REPORTING

When should a report be made?
It is better to make a report and let Children’s Services evaluate the risk a child is in than to let the abuse go unreported. Reports should be made when abuse is first suspected and all reports are taken seriously. Our agency is obligated to keep the name or identity of a reporter confidential throughout the investigative process. Reports are investigated by workers who are trained to investigate and evaluate if abuse or neglect has occurred, and then take appropriate measures if abuse or neglect is substantiated, to protect the child. If abuse or neglect is substantiated, counseling and parent support can be ordered in addition to removing the child from the home, when necessary, and placing the child with a relative/friend or foster provider while parents work a plan toward reunification.

Helpful information to have available when making a report.

• Names of all person living in the home, if known

• Family’s address and phone number

• Which child is the alleged child victim, if known

• Date of birth/age of alleged child victim if known

• Schools the children attend, if known

• A summary of what suspected abuse or neglect has occurred

Anyone who knows or suspects that a child has been or is at risk of being abused, neglected or dependent should make a report to the agency at (937) 335-4103, 8AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday and ask for the “Intake Department.” On weekends, holidays or after 5 PM, call 911. All referrals are confidential.

Investigators have 24 hours to initiate a nonemergency investigation. The referral source will not be informed of investigation activities due to confidentiality.

Return to top of page

DEFINING ABUSE

A child may suffer purposeful or accidental harm by a parent or caretaker. It is often difficult to separate physical and emotional abuse and neglect, as they frequently occur at the same time. Some common definitions of terms are as follows:

Physical Abuse:

non-accidental injuries, such as bruises, burns, welts, cuts and fractures inflicted by any person.

Physical Neglect:

failure to provide basic needs, such as food, medical care, clothing, and protection that a child needs for adequate growth and development.

Emotional Abuse and Neglect:

negative interaction between a parent and child, such as constant undue criticism, verbal abuse, ignoring the child or other forms of rejecting the child.

Sexual Abuse:

situations of sexual stimulation, incest and sexual exploitation which may include using children in pornographic films or photographs.

Anyone who knows or suspects that a child has been or is at risk of being abused, neglected or dependent should make a report to the agency at (937) 335-4103, 8AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday and ask for the “Intake Department.” On weekends, holidays or after 5 PM, call 911. All referrals are confidential

Return to top of page

MANDATED REPORTERS

“Ohio law requires some individuals to report concerns of child abuse, neglect and dependency to Miami County Children’s Services Board. These individuals include, but are not limited to: attorneys, law enforcement, medical/health care professionals, and school/day care personnel.”

Who are the mandated reporters required by law to report alleged abuse and neglect?

Attorneys
Physicians
Hospital intern/resident
Health care professionals
Dentists
Licensed psychologists
Speech pathologists or audiologists
Administrator or employee of daycare center
Employee of public/private children services agencies
School
Employee or authority
Social worker
Persons rendering spiritual treatment acting in an official/professional capacity

Anyone who knows or suspects that a child has been or is at risk of being abused, neglected or dependent should make a report to the agency at (937) 335-4103, 8AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday and ask for the “Intake Department.” On weekends, holidays or after 5 PM, call 911. All referrals are confidential.

Investigators have 24 hours to initiate a nonemergency investigation. The referral source will not be informed of investigation activities due to confidentiality.

Return to top of page

WHAT TO DO

What do I do if I witness abuse in public places?
If you see a child being abused in public, here are suggestions to help:

Avoid negative looks or comments. This may only increase the adult’s anger, making things worse for the child.

Divert the adult’s attention. Start a conversation with them, offering sympathy. For example, you could say, “Shopping with children can really try your patience, can’t it?”

Talk to the child. If the child is acting out or misbehaving, start a friendly conversation to distract him or her.

Praise the parent or child. Find something positive to say about either of them. For example, you could say, “That’s a pretty dress your daughter is wearing. Where did you get it?”

Offer to help. For example, if a child has been left unattended in a grocery cart, stay near him or her until a caretaker returns.

REMEMBER: Keep yourself safe and alert authorities if necessary. Contact law enforcement and/or local Children Services Agency.

Return to top of page