What Can You Do About Child Abuse?

The longer child abuse occurs, the more serious the consequences. You can stop abuse that is happening now and provide treatment for the victims and the abusers. You can also take steps to prevent child abuse.

Reporting Child Abuse

· A report of suspected child abuse is only a request for an investigation. It is a responsible attempt to protect a child and should be made when there is reasonable cause to believe that a child or adolescent has been abused or neglected or is in danger of being abused.

· The law in Wyoming requires every person, private citizen or professional, who has reason to believe that a child under age 18 has been abused to report the suspected abuse. Failure to do so is a crime. A person making a report in good faith is immune from both criminal and civil liability.

The person making the request for investigation does not need to prove the abuse. Investigation and substantiation of child abuse reports are the responsibility of child protection service personnel or law enforcement personnel.

· A request for investigation can be made to any county office of the Wyoming Department of Family Services (DFS) or a local law enforcement agency if the child is in imminent danger. When reporting, the following information will be requested:

• Name, age and gender of child and other family members

• Address, phone numbers and/or directions to the child's home

• Parent's place of employment

• Description of suspected abuse

• Current condition of the child

· A child protection worker from DFS will investigate reported abuse, which will result in the substantiation or unsubstantiation of reported abuse.

Local Agencies

Preventing Child Abuse

· Child abuse is preventable. Preventing child abuse does not require massive new programs. Existing resources can be used. In the end, prevention activities can actually save millions of dollars by keeping people out of an already overburdened and expensive social service system.

· Prevention can help keep children from becoming disabled, violent, institutionalized or otherwise costly to society. Prevention strengthens families, improving the quality of life for later generations.

· Prevention efforts must be initiated at the local level. Because child abuse is a complex problem, a number of different strategies must be used.

2008 Wyoming Children's Agenda

The 2008 Wyoming Children's Agenda is now available to review on-line.  Simply click on the link to open the PDF file.  Many issues related to the recent release of the Children and Families Initiative can be found.  Any questions may be referred to the contact person at the bottom of their respective page.  If you have any further questions or need more information, you can also contact us at Prevent Child Abuse Wyoming at the phone numbers listed below.

• Go to 2008 Wyoming Children's Agenda

• Go to 2007 Wyoming Children's Agenda

• Go to 2006 Wyoming Children's Agenda
  
  Quick Links to Official Government Web sites
   

• www.whitehouse.gov

• www.senate.gov

• www.house.gov

Who We Are

Child Abuse

Prevention Services
Events & Conferences
Advocacy
Legislative Updates
Resources
Publications

Support Us

News

Links