Prevent Child Abuse: What to Report and Where to Get Help – Includes CPS Michigan Phone Number

Keep Kids Safe

If you ever find yourself worried that a child might be in danger, it can feel overwhelming to figure out what to do next. Trust your gut—reporting suspected child abuse can save a life.

Whether it’s something you’ve seen, heard, or just feel uneasy about, taking action is crucial. Michigan has clear guidelines on what counts as abuse and who you can turn to for help.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the signs of abuse to watch for and the resources available to make sure every child stays safe.

Help Prevent Child Abuse in Grand Rapids

Child Abuse is real and it happens in Grand Rapids. It happens in Kent County. It happens in West Michigan.

And even though the idea of harming a child turns your stomach and makes you cringe, realize that you may be the only lifeline for a child in your life.

That child NEEDS you to see him. She needs you to advocate for her.

You may have hesitations about reporting someone. You don’t want to get a good mom or dad in trouble. You’ve heard horror stories about Child Protective Services taking kids away for reasons you don’t agree with.

But child abuse and neglect is a prevalent problem in our community and you have a role in responding to it. In 2023, 1,406 children ages 0-17 were abused or neglected in Kent County.

Children are vulnerable and they depend on us for protection. The impacts of child abuse and neglect last for a lifetime, but they are also 100% preventable.

How Do I Know its Child Abuse?

Many people hesitate to intervene in a situation because they aren’t sure if what they saw really “qualifies” as abuse. Here are some parameters to know and follow:

Legal definition of child abuse:

“Harm or threatened harm to a child’s health or welfare that occurs through non-accidental physical or mental injury, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, or maltreatment” …by the person responsible for the child’s care.

Abuse can be physical, emotional or sexual.

Legal definition of child neglect:

The “failure to provide adequate food, clothing,  shelter, or medical care.” Neglect can also be defined as “a parent/guardian’s…failure to intervene to eliminate that risk when that person is able to do so and has, or should have, the knowledge of the risk.”

This includes: failure to protect, improper supervision, abandonment and medical neglect.

Signs of Physical Child Abuse

Signs of Sexual Abuse

Signs of Child Neglect

What Can I Do to Help Prevent Child Abuse

If you suspect that a child is being abused or neglected, you should report it immediately.

If the child is at risk of immediate harm, or you witness the child being harmed, call the police – DIAL 911.

If the child is not in immediate danger, or you have not witnessed the harm firsthand, call Child Protective Services at 855-444-3911.

Michigan law states that anyone with “reasonable cause to suspect child abuse or neglect shall make immediately…an oral report.”  You do not have to have proof that a child is being abused or neglect in order to file a report.

If you suspect that something is wrong, err on the side of caution and make the call.

How Do I Report?

Michigan CPS number: 855-444-3911

You can file an oral report by calling Child Protective Services (CPS) at 855-444-3911.

During the call, CPS will ask you questions such as the child’s full name, age, and race; the perpetrator’s full name and relationship to the child; the child’s address; and what you are calling to report. Even if you don’t have all the information, don’t let that stop you from making a report!

The most important things to tell CPS during your call are who the victim is, where they can find the victim, and what happened.

4 Ways to Keep Your Kids Safe from Child Abuse

A few guidelines for keeping your own kiddos safe:

1. Teach Kids About Private Parts

Your child needs to understand what parts of his or her body are considered “private.” The Swimsuit Lesson by Jon Holsten is a great book on this topic. The author is a retired police sergeant and former investigator of child sex crimes. It is written in very simple terms for kids and also has a separate parent section.

Research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that approximately 1 in 6 boys and 1 in 4 girls are sexually abused before the age of 18.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, approximately 30% of perpetrators of sexual abuse are family members and about 60% are known to the child, but are not family members (family friends, babysitters, child care providers, neighbors, etc.). That means that 90% of child abuse comes from someone that the child already knows.

So yes, this is worth talking about.

2. Teach Kids That They Can Say “No” to an Adult

Telling an authority figure “no” can be tough for kids.

Talk to your kids about when they should obey adults (nearly always) and when it’s okay to not obey. They do NOT have to “keep a secret” with an adult if it makes them uncomfortable.

They do not have to say, see, or do anything with an adult that makes them feel uncomfortable, especially if involves their body or an adult’s.

3. Listen to the Little Voice in Your Head

This advice is for both kids and parents.

If you get a weird feeling about a family member of one of your child’s friends, don’t let them play at their house. While we are certainly not advocating that we all go around being super judgmental of others, when it comes to the safety and well-being of your child, you need to go with your gut.

We all have a sense of what is right and wrong. We all have that little voice in our heads that says, “I’m not so sure about this…”

Talk to our kids about this often. Teach them that “if something makes you uncomfortable, get yourself out of that situation right away.”

Kids need to have an “out” in those situations. Make sure your child knows what to do if they find themselves in an uncomfortable or unsafe situation.

Also make sure they know that they will never be in trouble for telling you about something that made them uncomfortable or calling you to have you come pick them up from a friend’s house because they are uncomfortable.

This article about giving your kids a way out is a great strategy for parents to use with older kids.

4. Help Kids Identify Safe Adults

As much as we want our kids to talk to us about everything, we can’t be the only safe adult in their lives. 

Talk to your kids about who they can talk to if needed. 

Encourage your kids to make a list of those adults and post it somewhere they will see if every day.

These adults could be a grandparent, teacher, family friend, coach, parent of a friend, school counselor, etc.

Where to Turn if You Suspect Your Child Has Been a Victim of Child Abuse

The Children’s Advocacy Center of Kent County is your resource if you suspect child abuse. If your child has had a significant change in behavior and/or has exhibited sexualized behavior and you do not know why, the Children’s Advocacy Center can do a behavior assessment to help determine where the behavior is coming from.

They can also help if you are wondering if your child is displaying age appropriate behavior or are wondering what age appropriate behavior looks like.

Four Things to Know About the Children’s Advocacy Center

We wish that no one would ever have to visit the Children’s Advocacy Center but if you do, here is some helpful information:

1. It’s Free. You don’t have to pay to investigate whether your child has been abused. If your child has been exhibiting sexualized or questionable behavior, call now to make an appointment. The Children’s Advocacy Center’s skilled professionals regularly deal with young children through pre-teens to sift fact from fiction. The CAC can also help you determine what is appropriate behavior for your child’s age.
2. It’s Safe. Your information and the information of your children will be kept confidential. Doors remain locked and entry is only granted by appointment. Kent County detectives are located in the same building, as are Child Protective Service Workers, should they be needed.
3. It’s Local. The Children’s Advocacy Center is at 2855 Michigan St NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506. You can call them at 616-336-5160.
4. You Won’t Need Childcare. When you bring a child in to be assessed, trained office staff and a fully stocked child-friendly lobby are ready for your other children.

Help Prevent Child Abuse With Mandated Reporter Training

Certain professions that have regular contact with children have been designated as Mandated Reporters. 

A mandated reporter is a person who is legally obligated to report suspected child abuse or neglect based on their profession. Some examples of people who are mandated reporters:

Mandated Reporter training is not limited to these professions, however. Anyone, including you, can become a Mandated Reporter.

Mandated Reporter Training trains people not only how to report child abuse and neglect, but also how to recognize it.

Training includes the Child Protection Law, responsibilities of Mandated Reporters, indicators of child abuse/neglect, and information on Children’s Protective Services.

For an online Mandated Reporter Training, the CARE House of Oakland County offers an online training free of charge. Check out the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services website for additional online resources. 

The Children’s Advocacy Center provides mandated reporter training throughout the year. To schedule personalized training for your business or organization, visit their Professional and Community Training page. They also offer sessions that are open to anyone in the community.

Helpful Resources

• Michigan Department of Health & Human Services – Contains information about how to report child abuse and neglect and what happens after CPS receives a report.
• Children’s Advocacy Center – Leading the local effort against child sexual abuse in Kent County since 1993.
• Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect – A helpful guide about the signs of potential child abuse and neglect.