Identify & Report Abuse
- Emily Stephenson
- Jan 27, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 16
Making a Report for Sexual Abuse
If you witness or suspect abuse, please contact the Abuse Hotline at 1-800-96-Abuse (1-800-962-2873)
The California Abuse Hotline accepts reports 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, of known or suspected child abuse, neglect or abandonment.
If you ever suspect a minor is in immediate danger, contact 911
There are four ways to make a report:
Telephone: Please immediately contact the Child Protection Hotline at (800) 540-4000
If Calling from Outside of California: (213) 639-4500
TDD - Telecommunication Device for the Deaf: (800) 272-6699
For additional services for the hard of hearing, please click Here.
Web reporting:
Non-emergent reports include incidents of suspected child abuse or neglect that do not require immediate attention or the victim is not in immediate danger.
Please click here to complete a non-emergent report in the Child Abuse Reporting Electronic System (CARES).
After making a verbal report to the Child Protection Hotline, Mandated Reporters are required to submit a follow-up written report within 36 hours (CA Penal Code 11166).
Please allow up to two hours after the Hotline phone call for your Referral Number to become activated.
Please click here to submit your follow-up report.
Los Angeles https://mandreptla.org/cars.web/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2Fcars.web%2FAuth%2FCARES
Department of Education http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/di/cd/
If the abuse took place in a school setting, contact the specific school district and ask to speak with the Human Resource department to file a complaint.
Under CA Civ Pro Code § 340.16, adult victims of sexual abuse and assault can file a case within 10 years of the event, or within three years since the discovery of any injury or illness resulting from the assault.
What information do I need to report?
In making a report to the department of child & family services, it is important to have the following information:
Name, ages, race and gender of all parties (alleged victim and alleged perpetrator) involved
Addresses of all parties, including current location
Relationship between alleged victim and alleged perpetrator
Any other information that may assist the department of child & family services in making their investigation, such as injuries reported or observed, directions to location of parties and potential safety concerns for investigators.
We are all responsible to be advocates for children in need
California Resources:
Department of Child services
Report Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect
The Office of Child Abuse Prevention (OCAP)
Facts about Rape & Sexual Assualt
Advocacy center Helping Survivors, a proud partner of RAINN. Mission is to assist anyone who has been victimized by sexual assault or abuse. Our website is a compilation of information around different instances of sexual violence. We offer resources to assist survivors and their families, and we will continuously be adding more. To see our organization and some of the helpful information we have made, check out the link below:
Helping Survivors - helpingsurvivors.org/rideshare-sexual-assault/
Healing after sexual abuse- https://rainn.org/for-survivors-of-child-sexual-abuse/healing-after-child-sexual-abuse/
Shame grows in silence, secrecy and judgment. Do not wait, the abuse will get buried alive.
Children, Teens & Adult Healing Homes to help in restoration after abuse has happened:
Olive Crest- service to various regions https://www.olivecrest.org
Family Healing Center- Fresno https://www.fhcfresno.org
First 5 California-Find Help Abuse & Violence
Domestic Abuse
Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Text 88788
Website
Safe Homes in California for Domestic Violence
Call your local church for guidance in this area if they are set up for this. Not all churches have the resources. Please keep this in mind.
Understanding the different types of Therapy Practices
How to Find a Trauma-Informed Therapist
Interview your Therapist- questions to ask
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