What is Child Abuse?

Every one of us can help stop child abuse

Help out a parent under stress with a few hours of child care or assistance with other chores.
Lend an ear to a parent or child in crisis.
Support programs that offer child care, parent education, family counseling, and child safety.
Call a Parental Stress program for resources and support.

If you suspect that a child has been abused:
- In cases of an immediate emergency, always call 911 for Law Enforcement intervention.
- Where the situation is not an emergency needing the police, reports should be made to the Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline in the following areas:




		It shouldn't hurt to be a kid.... Child abuse is physical -- shaking, hitting, beating, burning, or biting a child. Child abuse is emotional -- constantly blaming or putting down a child; excessive yelling, shaming. Child abuse is sexual -- incest, any forced sexual activity, exposure to sexual stimulation not appropriate for the child's age. Child abuse is neglect -- a pattern of failure to provide for the child's physical needs, such as food, clothing, shelter, and medical care; a pattern of failure to provide for the child's emotional needs, such as affection, attention, and supervision. About Child Abuse -- Santa Clara County Social Service Agency Child abuse reporting guidelines for Sexual activity between and with minors When Mandated Reporters Must Report Consensual Disparate Age Sexual Activity When to contact Child Protective Services in domestic violence cases Every one of us can help stop child abuse Help out a parent under stress with a few hours of child care or assistance with other chores. Lend an ear to a parent or child in crisis. Support programs that offer child care, parent education, family counseling, and child safety. Call a Parental Stress program for resources and support. (650) 327-3333 (408) 279-8228 If you suspect that a child has been abused: In cases of an immediate emergency, always call 911 for Law Enforcement intervention. Where the situation is not an emergency needing the police, reports should be made to the Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline in the following areas: Child Abuse Hotline San Jose (408) 299-2071 Palo Alto (650) 493-1186 Gilroy/Morgan Hill Area (408) 683-0601 Also see Making a Child Abuse Report What are the Consequences of Child Abuse? In an abusive environment, children are often expected to behave as if they are much older than they are. Children are often "punished" for behavior they are too young to control. Abusive parents do not know they have to teach the behavior they want the child to have. Punishing unwanted behavior is not enough. Parents and caretakers often abuse children in response to their own anger and unhappiness. It may have no relationship to what the child is doing at the time. Abused children believe that they have no value. believe that they cannot affect the world around them with good behavior. feel angry and/or depressed.


©Copyright 1999 - 2013 by Child Abuse Council of Santa Clara County All rights reserved. The Child Abuse Council of Santa Clara County makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of information presented on this site; but we make no warranty and can not be responsible for any damages resulting from use of information from this site.
\| Home \| Making a Report \| About Us \| Funding \| Calendar \| Resources \| \| Links \| What is Child Abuse? \| Statistics \| Site Map