Child Protection in the USA

Child Protective Service is the cornerstone of child welfare services. It is designed to protect children from physical, sexual, mental abuse, neglect and maltreatment by the family or caretaker. Child Protective services in each jurisdiction ensures that children are living in a safe, loving and caring environment. Public child welfare agencies in the Washington, DC metro are mandated to ensure that children are safe from any abuse and neglect and they are cared appropriately by their families. If you need more information about saving children from any unsafe environment or suspect that children have become victim of abuse and neglect, you need to contact your public child welfare agency where they live.

Child Protective Service responds to any child abuse and neglect incidents and reports. Most of the physical abuse indicators constitute non-accidental injuries such as assults, burns, fractures, bruises, unexplained physical injuries and severe beatings. Sexual abuse incidents occur when children are exploited for gratification by older children or adults. Most of the neglect incidents happen when children are deprived of basic food and clothing, supervision, and education. Most of the neglected children are deprived of care and love and they live in dangerous and unhealthy living environment. Children�s Bureau provides a chart of legal definitions of child abuse and neglect used across the United States.

By law, Medical Doctors, Nurses, Day Care Workers, Teachers, Shcool Officials, Social Workers, Mental Health Professionals, Police Officers, Psychologists are mandated reporters. Apart from mandated reporters, any person who is concerned about a child�s well-being is required to call Child Protective Services in his/her local jurisdiction. It is simply a moral and civic responsiblity to save a child from danger. When you call, you may give your name or stay annonymous. If you choose, your name will be kept confidential. Followings are the list of different jurisdictions in Washington, DC Metro area:

Alexandria City, Virginia:
Arlington County, Virginia:
Fairfax County, Virginia:
Montgomery County, Maryland:
Prince George's County, Maryland:
Washington, District of Columbia:
Children's Bureau:
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: Read more!