Red Flags for Child Abuse and Neglect

Child abuse includes physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, child neglect, and child exploitation. Professionals who work with children are legally mandated reporters, who must contact Child Protective Service (CPS) or local law enforcement as soon as possible, or within a certain time period.

The following signs are Red Flags that may indicate the presence of child abuse or neglect. (Adapted from the Child Welfare Information Gateway, U.S. Department 20O7 Factsheet, and other sources)

The Child:

• Has unexplained burns, bites, bruises, broken bones, or black eyes
• Shows sudden changes in sleeping patterns and has nightmares
• Has not received help for physical, medical or dental problems brought to the parents' attention
• Seems frightened and/or unattached to parents and/or doesn’t want to go home
• Shrinks at the approach of adults and/or dislikes being touched
• Is always watchful or wary
• Is overly compliant, passive, or withdrawn
• Has unusual difficulty walking or sitting
• Complains of discomfort or pain, or shows swelling or other physical signs, in the genital area
• The child may have frequent stomachaches, headaches and other pains
• Demonstrates sophisticated, or unusual sexual knowledge or behavior and/or is preoccupied with topics
• Shows new extremely demanding behavior and/or aggression
• Is either inappropriately adult (parenting other children, for example) or inappropriately infantile (frequently rocking or head-banging, for example)
• Is developmentally delayed
• Is frequently absent and/or has signs of fading bruises after return to school
• Begs, steals or hoards food
• Is consistently dirty and has severe body odor
• Has a new fear of undressing, bathing, toileting or diaper changing
• Lacks sufficient clothing for the weather
• Suddenly becomes clingy, fearful or regresses to earlier behaviors such as thumb sucking or wetting the bed
• Has a new fear of a specific person or a place

If you suspect abuse or neglect please call Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453). If a child is in immediate danger, has been harmed and needs immediate medical attention, or has been left unattended by an adult call 911. For more resources contact your local CPS office or the Child Welfare Information