Frequently Asked Questions

How does Indiana define child abuse?

Is child abuse a major problem in Indiana?

Why Should We Try to Prevent Child Abuse?

What Should I do if I Suspect a Child is Being Abused?

How can I Help?

The Issue of Child Abuse and Neglect

Under Indiana law, child abuse and neglect refers to a child in need of services (CHINS). A child is determined to be in need of services if:

• The child's physical or mental health condition is seriously impaired or seriously endangered as a result of the inability, refusal, or neglect of the child's parent/guardian/ custodian to supply the child with necessary food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education, or supervision;
• The child's physical or mental health is seriously endangered due to injury by the act or omission of the child's parent/guardian/custodian. An omission is an occurrence in which the parent/guardian/custodian allowed that person's child to receive an injury the parent/guardian/custodian had a reasonable opportunity to prevent or mitigate;
• The child is the victim of a sex offense under the criminal citations incorporated into the CHINS definition;
• The child's parent/guardian/custodian allows the child to participate in an obscene performance;
• The child's parent/guardian/custodian allows the child to commit a sex offense;
• This definition includes a child with a disability that is deprived of:
  • nutrition necessary to sustain life;
  • medical or surgical intervention necessary to remedy or ameliorate a life threatening medical condition if the nutrition or medical or surgical intervention is generally provided to similarly situated children with or without disabilities.

Religious Beliefs/Provision of Medical Treatment:
When a parent/guardian/custodian fails to provide specific medical treatment for a child because of the legitimate and genuine practice of the parent/guardian/custodian's religious beliefs, a refutable presumption arises that the child is not a child in need of services because of such failure. However, this presumption does not prevent a juvenile court from ordering, when the health of the child requires, medical services from a physician licensed to practice medicine in Indiana . The presumption does not apply to situations in which the life or health of a child is in serious danger.

Use of Corporal Punishment:
Nothing in the Juvenile Code limits the right of a person to use reasonable corporal punishment when disciplining a child if the person is the parent/guardian/custodian of the child. In addition, nothing in this chapter limits the lawful practice or teaching of religious beliefs.

Source:
Indiana Code, Juvenile and Family Law Duwel, P.L. Community Child Protection Teams: A Manual for Team Members. Indiana Chapter Prevention of Child Abuse and Indiana Family and Social Services Administration. (11/97)

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Child Abuse Statistics

During Indiana's 2004 Fiscal Year,

• 51 Hoosier children died as a result of child abuse and neglect, and more than 61,000 reports of abuse were made.
• 393 reports of child abuse and neglect were made in Hendricks County .
• Estimates place the number of actual child abuse cases at more than three times the number reported.

Hendricks County saw two children die as a result of child abuse during the 2005 State Fiscal Year.

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Why Should We Try to Prevent Child Abuse?

• Child abuse has short and long term effects, including brain damage, developmental delays, depression, and aggressive behavior.
• 90% of incarcerated male felons have histories of being child abuse victims.
• Child abuse is a common denominator in attempted teen suicides and adolescent use of alcohol and other drugs.
• The financial cost of treating child abuse and neglect victims is 19 times the cost of prevention.

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What Should I do if I Suspect a Child is Being Abused?

Indiana law requires mandatory reporting of suspected abuse or neglect. This means that you must report abuse to the proper authorities. Child Protective Services (CPS) operates a 24 hour, 7 day-a-week hotline at 1-800-800-5556. In Hendricks County , the local CPS number is (317) 272-4917. Calls can be made anonymously and callers are immune from all civil and criminal liability, provided they have made the report in good faith.

Information to give CPS when making an abuse or neglect report:

• Name, age address and phone number of child;
• Exact name, address and telephone number of child's parent, guardian, or custodian;
• Exact description of what you saw or what the child said to you;
• If you have noticed ongoing abuse, keep a log of incidents or behaviors that have concerned you, and have that log available when you make the call.
• Be courteous and professional, remaining calm and maintaining a factual manner;
• If you don't have all of the information requested, please make the report with the facts that you do have. Don't hesitate simply because you feel you can't provide all the information; even a little information will give CPS the opportunity to investigate.

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How can I Help?

Communities for Kids has many opportunities for members of the community to become involved in our efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect.

You can:

• Join our organization as a volunteer. Our programs and activities are operated by a non-paid group of concerned citizens. Nearly all of our volunteers have full time jobs, and they give as much, or as little, time as their schedules allow.
• Become a Mentor Mother. We are looking for women who have at least one child to serve as mentors and guides to mothers who are in need of additional parenting support. Our mentors will meet with their program mothers at least three times per month for a period of one year. This program requires a commitment of approximately ten hours per month.
• Participate in our annual golf tournament. This tournament is our largest fundraiser of the year, and provides the vast majority of the money needed to operate our programs. What better way to support our community's children than by enjoying a day of fun in the sun!
• Serve as an advocate for children by contacting members of the community and elected officials, urging them to take actions that cherish children and nourish families.
• Donate to Communities for Kids.

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