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How to Report Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect
Hotline Numbers for Reporting Child Abuse by State

From Administration for Children and Families, for About.com

Updated October 16, 2009

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

If you suspect that a child is being abused or neglected, you should call your local Child Protective Services (CPS) agency or the CPS agency in the State in which the abuse occurred. As you identify the appropriate agency for making a report, remember the following:
  • Not every State has a toll free hotline, or the hotline may not operate on a 24 hour basis.

  • If a toll free (800 or 888) number is available, it may be accessible only from within that State.

  • Federal agencies have no authority to intervene in individual child abuse and neglect cases. Each State has jurisdiction over these matters, and has specific laws and procedures for reporting and investigating. In some States, all citizens are mandated reporters by State law and must report any suspicion of child abuse or neglect.

Listed below are the toll free numbers for the States that have them available. If a number is not listed, or if you need to report suspected abuse in a State other than your own, please call:

    Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline
    1-800-4-A-CHILD
    (1-800-422-4453)
    TDD: 1-800-2-A-CHILD

Childhelp USA is a non-profit agency which can provide reporting numbers, and has Hotline counselors who can provide referrals.

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
D.C.
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

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