| By Crystal Kendall
The only way that child abuse or neglect can be investigated by the Department
of Health and Human Resources is if a report is made.
If you believe that child abuse and neglect is occurring, please contact your local
office.
When you call, please be prepared to give as much information as possible to the
person you speak with. This information is pertinent to an investigation.
You
will be asked several questions and the more information you can give, the easier
it is for the Department to complete a thorough investigation.
The following information is what you will be asked to provide. You do not need
to have all of this information, but remember the more information you can give,
the better the chances of a thorough investigation.
1. Names of all family members and any other persons living in the home.
2. Ages and birth dates for all parties.
3. Social security numbers
4. Address
5. Phone number
6 Finding directions to the home
7. All allegations of abuse or neglect
8. Who is committing the abuse
9. Is this abuse occurring now
10. Is there any danger to the worker who will interview the family
11. Is there a history of abuse and neglect reports
12. What school, if any, do the children attend
13. Is there anyone else who knows about the abuse
14. Is there a support system for the family, such as grandparents
The worker who takes your referral may ask about the parent's or the children's
behavior. Do the parents have a history of violence or substance abuse? They
may ask if the children have any special needs and how the family interacts with
each other and the community.
All referrals can be made ANONYMOUSLY, however, you should know that even if
you give your name to a worker, it will be kept confidential in all instances with
the only exception being a court order. By giving your name and number to the
worker, we are able to contact you should we have any further questions
regarding the family.
They say it takes a village to raise a child, but it takes a community to keep them
safe. If you feel a child is being abused or neglected, do not hesitate to make a
referral. The one day you wait could be one day too many.
To make a referral call:
Grantsville DHHR: 354-6118
Wirt DHHR: 275-6551
WV Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-352-6513
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