All Kentuckians are mandated reporters. If you believe a child is being abused or neglected, call the Child Protection Hotline.
For contact information in other states, please visit our Report It page.
Child help: National Abuse Hotline:
1-800-4-CHILD
or 1-800-422-4453
In the efforts to end child abuse and neglect, knowledge is our best tool. The more you know, the more you can do to help those who have already been victimized and prevent it from happening again. Face It encourages you to learn more about child abuse and the programs in your community and to pass that information on to those around you.
Check out this short video for community members that will help to identify the signs of child abuse and neglect.
Simple acts of kindness can help reduce parental stress. This can include making a meal for a new parent, encouraging parents, offering to help a parent run errands by going along or caring for the child, and offering to set up a car pool with other parents. Even lending an ear to a parent or caregiver can help because talking about stress can help to reduce it.
-Share information about activities and events in your area to get youth and their families engaged in their community.
-Volunteer with a Face It partner.
-Attend or promote Face It’s free trainings for youth-serving organizations in Kentucky. This includes organizations such as youth sports teams, faith-based organizations, community centers, youth development/enrichment centers, and those who serve vulnerable populations.
-Check out the Face It policy agenda if you are interested in advocating for change in state laws or regulations.
-Bruising in babies who are not cruising yet
-For a child of any age, bruising to the ears, neck, torso, buttocks, or genitals
-Burns on a young baby or child, such as those caused by cigarettes or immersion in hot water
-Pain when toileting, frequent yeast infections or urinary tract infections, or any sexually transmitted disease or related symptoms could be signs of sexual abuse
-Aggression toward peers, pets, other animals
-Seems afraid of parents or other adults
In Kentucky, everyone is a mandated reporter. Anyone who has reasonable cause to believe that a child is being physically abused, sexually abused, or neglected should report child abuse and neglect to the Department for Community Based Services.
Look for any bruising on a baby who is not yet pulling up and taking steps; bruising to the ears, neck, torso, buttocks, or genitals of any child under four years; unexplained injuries on children of any age.
Look for an increase in nightmares and/or other sleeping difficulties, withdrawn behavior, angry outbursts, anxiety, and not wanting to be alone with a particular individual(s).
Children are afraid to tell about their abuse because they feel ashamed, don’t want the abuser to hurt them, don’t want to cause stress for their caregivers, or don’t want their abuser to go to jail.
