Welcome to Day 15 of Safe & Sound, our final day of Safe & Sound!

Yesterday we talked about the signs of abuse. Knowing the signs can help you spot a child that may be in danger.

If you’re following our tips from earlier weeks and fostering good communication with your child, there’s also a chance that one day your child might disclose abuse to you or share concerning information about a friend. Or you may stumble across a situation where you witness abuse.

No matter how you learn about abuse—there is only one thing you need to do.

REPORT SUSPECTED ABUSE.

Let’s take a closer look at the three situations that should compel you to speak up and make a report:

1. Disclosure: A child discloses abuse to you. This disclosure can be done verbally or with a note or drawing.

2. Discovery: In this situation, you come upon the abusive act in person, hear it over the phone, or see it (on video chat or in person).

3. Suspicion: You have reasonable suspicion that abuse is taking place. Your suspicion may be grounded in the behavior of a child or signs you’ve observed. You may be suspicious based on the interaction between the child and another person. Or you may hear a child or another person says something that leads you to suspect abuse.

How ever you become aware of the abuse, it’s essential that you act immediately. Do not wait a week. Do not wait a day! Oregon law protects people who alert authorities to potential child abuse. You can also make an anonymous report to keep your identity safe. In general, you should follow these steps to make sure you are reporting responsibly.

• When a child has disclosed abuse: First, thank the child. Tell them that you believe them. Next, ask if they feel safe. If the alleged abuser lives in their home or is a frequent visitor in their home, you will want to make sure they feel safe being at home. After you have tended to the child, report the abuse immediately. Call the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline at 855-503-7233 or contact local law enforcement. If the child is in immediate danger, dial 911.

• When you’ve discovered abuse: The guidelines here are the same as above, unless the offender is present. You will want to make sure that both you and the child are safe. If that means calling 911 before you do anything else, then that is what you need to do.

• When you suspect abuse: If you have reasonable suspicion that abuse is happening, you can make a good faith report. Call the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline at 855-503-7233. A screener at the hotline will ask you to explain everything that you have seen and heard that has raised your concern for a child.

MANDATORY REPORTING.

In the state of Oregon, certain professionals (such as doctors, teachers, counselors and law enforcement) are considered mandatory reporters. These professionals are required to report abuse, regardless of whether they learn about abuse on or off the job. Learn more about mandatory reporting. Even if you’re not a mandatory reporter, you have a moral obligation to speak up if you receive a disclosure, make a discovery, or become suspicious of child abuse. Children need our protection; it’s up to adults to stop child abuse! Trust your gut, and don’t delay.

IF YOU SUSPECT ABUSE, DO NOT ASSUME SOMEONE ELSE WILL REPORT IT.

If you make a report, there’s a good chance you could be saving more than one child. Child sex offenders tend to have multiple victims: 70% of child sex offenders have between 1 and 9 victims, and 20% of offenders have between 10 to 40 victims. By making a report, you could be sparing many other children from the devastating trauma of abuse. But even if you only save one child, it is worth it to make the call.

TODAY’S ACTIVITY:

For young children: Download this coloring (English version / Spanish version) and activity book that reviews some of the safety topics we’ve covered in the last three weeks.

Older children: Let your child choose an activity to do this weekend. Take some time to bond and learn more about their passions.

We hope you found our Safe & Sound series helpful, and that you share this information with other adults you know because every child has the right to be safe. ❤️