Raising awareness is a critical first step in preventing child abuse and neglect. When we take action to help families thrive, children can grow up safe, healthy, and strong.

Ten Things You Can Do to Prevent Child Abuse

1. Volunteer your time. Get involved with other parents in your community. Help vulnerable children and their families. Start a playgroup.
2. Discipline your children thoughtfully. Never discipline your child when you are upset. Give yourself time to calm down. Remember that discipline is a way to teach your child. Use privileges to encourage good behavior and time-outs to help your child regain control.
3. Examine your behavior. Abuse is not just physical. Both words and actions can inflict deep, lasting wounds. Be a nurturing parent. Use your actions to show children and other adults that conflicts can be settled without hitting or yelling.
4. Educate yourself and others. Simple support for children and parents can be the best way to prevent child abuse. After-school activities keep children safe from harm. So do parent education classes and mentoring programs. Respite care also contributes to children’s safety. Be a voice in support of these efforts in your community.
5. Teach children their rights. When children are taught they are special, they understand they have the right to be safe. They are less likely to think abuse is their fault. They are also more likely to report an offender.
6. Support prevention programs. Too often, intervention occurs only after abuse is reported. Greater investments are needed in programs that have been proven to stop the abuse before it occurs. These include family counseling and home visits by nurses who provide assistance for newborns and their parents.
7. Know what child abuse is. Physical and sexual abuse clearly constitute maltreatment. Neglect is also maltreatment. It occurs when parents or other caregivers fail to provide a child with needed food, clothing, and care. Children can also be emotionally abused when they are rejected, berated, or continuously isolated.
8. Know the signs. Unexplained injuries aren’t the only signs of abuse. Depression and fear of a certain adult can be indications. Difficulty trusting others or making friends may also be warning signs. Sudden changes in eating or sleeping patterns are concerning too. Inappropriate sexual behavior and poor hygiene could hint at trouble. Secrecy and hostility often suggest family problems. These may indicate a child is being neglected or physically, sexually, or emotionally abused.
9. Invest in kids. Encourage leaders in the community to be supportive of children and families. Ask employers to provide family-friendly work environments. Ask your local and national lawmakers to support legislation to better protect our children and to improve their lives.
10. Report abuse. If you witness a child being harmed, take action immediately. You should make a report to your state’s child protective services department. You can also contact your local police if you see evidence of abuse. When talking to a child about abuse, listen carefully. Assure the child that he or she did the right thing by telling an adult. Affirm that he or she is not responsible for what happened.

Need to report abuse or neglect?

To report suspected child abuse or neglect, contact the SCDSS 24-hour, toll-free hotline at  1-888-CARE4US or 1-888-227-3487. This hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Intake staff will assist the person making the report and assess the information provided to determine if an investigation is necessary. 

Contact 911 immediately if the situation is a life-threatening emergency. An emergency is a situation where a child appears to face an immediate risk of abuse or neglect that could result in death or serious harm.