How to Do an Intervention for Abusive Parents

Keeping quiet or not wanting to interfere when child abuse is suspected allows the abuse to continue.

In 2008 Child Protective Services, or CPS, received about 3.3 million reports of potential child abuse. Of those cases, 772,000 were substantiated as valid, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Child abuse is not just physical or sexual. Also in 2008, 71 percent of the cases CPS dealt with were neglect cases. The best way to intervene when a parent is abusing their child is to report the abuse. Precautions should be made to protect the child's best interest when maltreatment is suspected. That's why it is best to document everything as soon as you witness it and report it to CPS immediately. CPS will investigate, determine the validity of the case and proceed as necessary.

Things You'll Need

• Child Protective Services hotline number

Instructions

1. Document the very first signs of child abuse immediately and continue to document it every time you witness the abuse and even if you only hear about it. For example, if the child tells you that she was hit in the face by her parent, you should document on paper exactly what the child said to you in her words. Document whether there are any visible sings of trauma or marks on her face or body. Document how the child appears, such as whether the child is making eye contact and if she seems listless or withdrawn. Document when the incident occurred, when you heard about it and any other pertinent information you feel may help. The more information you write down, the more helpful your report will be.

2. Report to Child Protective Services immediately by calling the 24-hour national child abuse hotline, Childhelp USA, at 1-800-422-4453, and if the incident requires immediate medical attention, also call 911. A CPS worker may want to interview you in person, but it will depend on the urgency of the incident. Make a new report for each new incident; if the child is seen with a fresh wound or new allegation, you need to make a new report to CPS.

3. Give a copy of all your documentation reports to the CPS worker when he arrives to interview you to help him investigate the case.

4. Continue documenting and reporting any new maltreatment claims after the CPS worker has intervened, and report them directly to the worker or the hotline for each new claim.

5. Be prepared to testify should the need arise. If child maltreatment is substantiated and the case goes to family court, you may be required to appear as a witness.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep copies of all documentation and reports of abuse for your records. You could be called to testify if the child abuse is substantiated and it goes to family court.

• Do not inform the child's parents that you contacted CPS to report suspected physical or sexual abuse. The parents may leave the state with the child before CPS can intervene, making it difficult to prosecute.

References

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Child Maltreatment; Facts at a Glance; 2010
• MedlinePlus: Child Abuse
• World Health Organization; Child Maltreatment

Resources

• FindCounseling.com: Child Abuse Crisis Lines and Hotlines