what to do next

In the event you suspect a child is in danger, there are key elements to remember in order to get the best help and best results quickly.

Stay calm. This is important. Do not let your emotions dictate your actions, and do not release your emotions onto persons who are supposed to investigate your case (Children’s Protective Services, law enforcement, etc.)

If this is an emergency: Call 911 or your local police.

Document everything from this point forward, including times, dates, and places.

Collect and keep all documents from all professionals who have an opinion about the child abuse. This includes therapists, doctors, policemen, and teachers. If a professional informs you that they have an opinion or a suspicion of child abuse, have them document that suspicion, preferably in the form of an affidavit. Be sure to get a copy of any opinions from professionals regarding your child’s case.

Have your child evaluated. Talk to medical and psychology professionals. If possible, have your child evaluated at a Child Assessment Center (CAC).

Begin investigation. Talk to your local law enforcement – sheriff, constable or police — to initiate an investigation into the allegation of child abuse. Any reasonable belief of abuse or neglect should be reported to the police. Ask if the abuse you suspect is a crime.

Talk to Child Protective Services (CPS). If Law Enforcement tells you the abuse is not criminal, talk to your local CPS (sometimes called DCFS, etc.) to initiate an investigation into the allegation of child abuse.

Get an attorney. If the perpetrator is the child’s father or stepfather, get an attorney, obtain a PROTECTIVE ORDER, and start proceedings to gain full custody of your child and terminate the abuser’s parental rights, if any.

Complete the Justice for Children INTAKE FORM. After we have had a chance to review your information, we will contact you if we believe that we can help.

If you think another person’s child is being abused:

If you have a good relationship with a person who loves the child, share the information about abuse from these pages with that person.

If the person is unwilling to call law enforcement or Children’s Protective Services, do it yourself.

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Start the process of getting help, or getting help for a child in need, now.

Ayudar a un niño que lo necesita ahora.

Justice for Children provides guidance through the legal and judicial processes, assists in court watch, and advocates on behalf of children to law enforcement and other governmental agencies. JFC connects individuals with legal resources including pro bono attorneys and helps with protective orders. Justice for Children JFC is also involved in a variety of legal research projects and has contributed to amicus briefs, researching legal issues and providing data on important legal issues affecting the rights of abused children.

Justice for Children assists and refers several thousand callers annually through the complicated and unsympathetic maze of governmental agencies established to protect abused children. Advocating for an abused or neglected child takes on many different forms of participation and involvement. These include researching and gathering supporting documentation; reviewing supporting documentation; referring persons to professionals; guiding them through the legal and judicial process; providing legal assistance with protective orders; initiating child abuse investigations; serving as a liaison to law enforcement and other governmental agencies; generating advocacy correspondence and amicus briefs; acting as facilitator of professional services; court watch; and providing pro bono legal representation and connecting persons with attorneys.

Justice for Children has proposed and drafted legislation to improve the laws pertaining not only to child abuse and child protection, but also laws concerning the funding for protective services. We have also presented legislation designed to make the legal process more child-friendly. Additionally, because of its experience in this area, Justice for Children receives numerous requests to provide testimony regarding various pieces of legislation around the country.

Justice for Children has traditionally provided information and materials to combat child abuse and to educate the public of the signs and symptoms of child abuse or neglect in its efforts to interrupt its dismal cycle. In 2012, it is initiating a project called “Just in Time”, to develop a series of informational and instructional modules to be placed on its website. Each is designed specifically to aid a field on the front lines of identifying and re-mediating child abuse: the community, medical first responders, school personnel, pediatricians, court personnel, and counseling professionals.

We seek to collaborate with other concerned national and community leaders, professionals, institutions, non-profit organizations, and governmental agencies to further a common goal of solving the deficiencies in our present child protective systems. By expanding our relationships within the community and on a national level, we are working to create a system that will effectively handle a child’s initial report of abuse, provide immediate safety, and ultimately, prosecute and convict the child abuser.

Justice for Children’s expert opinion continues to be recognized and valued by local and national media, legal and medical professionals, child abuse experts, and various other children’s rights organizations. We have been featured on ABC’s Primetime Live, ABC’s prime-time documentary entitled ‘Crimes Against Children,’ a PBS documentary entitled ‘Boy Crying, Baby Crying,” as well as appearances on Good Morning America, Donahue, the Discovery channel’s “Justice Files,’ HBO and in 2011, the BBC.