Help is Available!!! There are people in Los Angeles that you don’t even know that care about YOU! People that want to help YOU! If you are being abused, tell someone…tell your teacher, your guidance counselor, your doctor. Or, if you aren’t comfortable talking to someone that you know, call one of the help lines below. The calls are free and anonymous.

If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

If you want to want to talk to someone anonymously contact Childhelp USA® at 1-800-4-A-CHILD®. Counselors are available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week to listen, answer your questions, and help you report abuse when and if you are ready. They won’t know who you are, but they can help you.

If you are already a child in the foster system, and want another person on your side, a CASA volunteer may be for you! CASA volunteers help protect your rights and are advocates for you in the court room. Unlike your social worker who works with many children at once, a CASA volunteer helps only one child at a time...you!

If you are in foster care, but still don't feel quite safe, the Bikers Against Child Abuse are on your side. You can call upon these bikers to come to you when you are alone or frightened. BACA will also be there for court appearances or parole hearings.

If you are a foster child in Los Angeles, check out the Independent Living Program. This program offers a range of services to help you make the transition out of the foster care system into adulthood. The Independent Living Program offers services such as financial aid, apartment rental assistance, health care, and job training.

What is Abuse? Los Angeles County says that Child Abuse is the repeated mistreatment or neglect of a child by parent(s) or other guardian resulting in injury or harm. (http://dcfs.co.la.ca.us/FAQ/main.htm)

Types of Abuse

Neglect

Neglect is failure to provide for a child's basic needs. Neglect may be:

Physical (e.g., failure to provide necessary food or shelter, or lack of appropriate supervision)
Medical (e.g., failure to provide necessary medical or mental health treatment)²
Educational (e.g., failure to educate a child or attend to special education needs)
Emotional (e.g., inattention to a child's emotional needs, failure to provide psychological care, or permitting the child to use alcohol or other drugs)

These situations do not always mean a child is neglected. Sometimes cultural values, the standards of care in the community, and poverty may be contributing factors, indicating the family is in need of information or assistance. When a family fails to use information and resources, and the child's health or safety is at risk, then child welfare intervention may be required.

Emotional Abuse

Emotional Abuse is a pattern of behavior that impairs a child's emotional development or sense of self-worth. This may include constant criticism, threats, or rejection, as well as withholding love, support, or guidance. Emotional abuse is often difficult to prove and, therefore, Child Protection Services may not be able to intervene without evidence of harm to the child. Emotional abuse is almost always present when other forms are identified.

*If someone causes you to be terrified or extremely frightened by constant use of threats or intimidating behavior this may be emotional abuse. Parents aren’t perfect, they do make mistakes and says things that they regret. Sometimes parents may say really mean things to you. They may say that you are stupid, that you can’t do anything right, or that they wish that you had never been born. Just remember, even though these things hurt your feelings, they aren’t true. *this information is not from the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect.

Sexual Abuse

Generally, it is not okay for someone to touch you in your private areas (the areas that are covered by your bathing suit) or for someone to ask you to touch them in their private areas. It is also not okay for someone to take pictures of you without your clothes on. The exception is if you are sick or having a check up by your doctor, usually this is not sexual abuse, or when little kids need baths or their diapers changed. Use your judgment; if it feels weird or scary speak up. *this definition is not from the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect.

Physical Abuse

Physical Abuse is physical injury (ranging from minor bruises to severe fractures or death) as a result of punching, beating, kicking, biting, shaking, throwing, stabbing, choking, hitting (with a hand, stick, strap, or other object), burning, or otherwise harming a child. Such injury is considered abuse regardless of whether the caretaker intended to hurt the child.

The information in the table above is provided by the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect. The examples provided are for general informational purposes only. Not all States' definitions will include all of the examples listed below, and individual States' definitions may cover additional situations not mentioned here. (http://nccanch.acf.hhs.gov/pubs/factsheets/whatiscan.cfm)