I need help with child abuse reporting!!!

[adamandcatarina444]

hey everyone i really need help reporting child abuse. im not being abuse but my girlfriend is by her parents. im really concerned because i know her sister who is mentally retarded has been physically abused too. since we've been goin out this is like the 4th time that i know shes been hit. when i was talking to her she told me her mom just slapped her face earlier for somethin and then when her mom heard her say that on the phone she came and slapped her really hard on the arm. i know its just slapping but it left a bruise on her arm and i know that she has been hit by her mom before too. shes 16 so she is still considered a child. i know her dad has hit her before too but its been a while from what she says but i know a couple months ago the last time that she knows of her dad abusing them was when she was back home from school and her sister whose disabled and her dad got into a fight and her dad hit her. what should i do? i cant stand by and let this happen. who can she call? i know i cant do anything about it so im tryin to get information for her so she can report it to someone. shes scared to call someone but i think shes brave enough to call a child abuse hotline. please someone give me some information so i can give it to her. preferrably today.

[Oblivion]

It's as easy as picking up the phone and dialing 911. Child abuse should never be taken lightly, and should always be reported immediately.


If you/she are/is uncomfortable doing this, you can always talk to your counselor at school, so then it can be dealt with away from home, and away from her parents.

Remember that parents do have a legal right to somewhat discipline their child, but there is a thin line between spanking and harming.
I would recommend the latter option so you can get a professional opinion.

[NeverTooLate]

or u can call cps

[BuryYourFlame]

As Nick (Shattered) said, it would be best to first get a professional opinion, to save a fair bit of legal stuff. If you are certain that what is happening here is certainly crossing the line of disciplining, then call the police straight away, or the child abuse hotline: 1-800-422-4453

[Eagle1]

or u can call cps

i agree call cps

[Antares]

These situations are always really touchy.
And it can cause lots of problems down the road no matter what action you take.
However, if your girlfriend decides that she has had enough, and she can't take anymore then all she needs to do is call 911. I would actually advise her to do it while she is out of the presence of her parents, so she can speak freely. Maybe taking a picture of herself and bruises and then going to her school counselor, who is obligated to act. I think that the school counselor thing is the safest way. They are completely confidential also. If she doesn't want to talk to her counselor then call 911 and get the cops involved.

The only issues that stem from that is that, once 911 is called, it changes the life of the kids and parents and their relationship forever. Child Services will get involved, etc and it will change the structure of the family.
Either way good luck to you guys :)

[Sazcazam]

It could just be that the parents are strict. I was hit when I was a child, but it wasn't abuse.. it was discipline. Hitting is taken far too seriously these days (IN SOME CASES)... most people get a bruise if they are hit.. it's what happens!

[Truth]

It could just be that the parents are strict. I was hit when I was a child, but it wasn't abuse.. it was discipline. Hitting is taken far too seriously these days (IN SOME CASES)... most people get a bruise if they are hit.. it's what happens! No child deserves to be hit hard enough to be left with a bruise, it's illegal and immoral. You might not find it immoral, but it's still illegal. (Other then a spanking, and after 13? I'd call that abuse.)