Child Abuse Organizations

It is another day and Laws.com has been speaking to many more organizations that are working toward the goal of raising awareness and trying to put an end to abuse towards children. The groups that we have found for today are all doing great things for the community so we thought many of you out there may be able to benefit from knowing more about them.

The first of these groups is the Bellflower Center for Prevention of Child Abuse. They have been doing what they can to help nurture children and strengthen families for over 30 years now, and with time, their techniques have only gotten better. The Bellflower Center’s main focus is to break the cycle of abuse through the education and clinical treatment of both young victims and adults that have survived being abused. As many of you may be aware, it is very likely that a child that is abused will grow up to continue these actions on their own children. The Center’s efforts helps people that have anger and sadness that they do not know how to express in a productive manner. They also provide assistance and education to teen mothers, there are personal safety programs, help for kids that witness violence, and there are hotlines on the site for people to use if they or somebody they know is being abused.

Over in New England, the Prevent Child Abuse Rhode Island organization is getting involved to put an end to this problem as well. When you go to their website, you can see all of the resources that they provide. There is a hotline you can use that is displayed right on the front page, there are statistics of abuse in Rhode Island, a clear definition of what child abuse is, and how you can report it. RICAP is working to strengthen family units, educate child care providers, teachers, and pediatric health professionals with their professional development workshops, and make the public aware of what can happen to children if they are not nurtured the way they should be. Visit their website to learn about everything they have to offer the Rhode Island communities. Donations are also welcome and can be given through the site.

The last of today’s child abuse organizations is G.W. Medical Publishing. They contribute to helping the problem of child abuse in a very important way. Founded by Glenn Whaley, this group has published several child abuse related materials so that society can get a better understanding about the issue, how to prevent it, what to do if child abuse does occur, and how to help children that have been abused. G.W. Medical Publishing has entire training curriculums available on their website that cover topics such as neglect, sexual exploitation, and general child maltreatment as well. If you or your organization would like to purchase any of these books, training programs, CD-ROMs, or any other type of educational materials, visit their website to see what is available to you. Glenn Whaley himself has told us that if anyone mentions Laws.com, they will receive twenty-percent off of their purchase.

These groups will be continuing to help society in a big way for years to come so we are happy to have them featured here. Hopefully many of you out there will help these organizations reach their goal by donating or maybe even organize people in your area to fight the problem of child abuse.

Make Kids Safe

The number of children that come from homes where abuse is prevalent is astounding. It can be very difficult for children to speak out for themselves against family members, who are supposed to be their protectors, and get out of situations that are harmful to them. Children who suffer or have suffered from abuse can deal with an array of psychological issues, in some cases for the rest of their lives. This is why it is so important that we stick up for those that may not be able to help themselves. There are many agencies that deal with these problems on a daily basis, but kids still slip through the cracks all the time. If we can raise awareness about these issues, we will be able to minimize the number of these cases that arise and hopefully provide these children with a better life. Without the diligence of child advocacy groups, it is very unlikely that we would have made the strides that we have so far, but there is still much to do and plenty of today’s youth are still in horrible environments.

Many children are afraid to let people know that they are being abused because of fear. They are afraid of what will happen to their parents, what their parents might do to them, and where they are going to live if they are not longer going to be staying with the people they have grown up with and shared a house with since they were born. The good thing is that there are organizations out there that are able to put many of those fears to rest. Groups have dedicated their time to making sure that children can find a safe home, where they will be cared for and nurtured the way that they deserve to be. A number of great, loving families are out there willing to bring abused children into their home and provide them with a future that they may not have had otherwise.

People that are not fit for parenthood do exist, and the faster we recognize this the faster we can make progress. Abuse and neglect can leave children feeling alone, unloved, and may make them feel as if there is no one in the world out there that can help them. Neglect makes kids fend for themselves, forcing them to grow up faster than they should be. Without guidance, children can make poor decisions or become involved in illegal activities with people that may pretend to care for them, and there is no one there to keep them from doing so. The youth do make mistakes, we all know that, but it is an adult’s responsibility to help them learn from them so that it does not occur again in the future.

These organizations are doing the best that they can to find homes for children that need a safe haven. Take a look at the websites that we have provided here and find out more about what is being done to help kids find a better life for themselves.

Organizations finding safe homes for children:
http://www.olivecrest.org

Bring Children Home Safe

A child is reported missing nearly once every forty seconds, which is a very alarming rate. The same way that physical abuse can affect a child’s mental state for years, so can cases of child abduction, even if it is committed by one of their own parents. The majority of child abduction cases are actually perpetrated by people that the children know or are at least familiar with, making it easier for the abductor to mislead the child into trusting them. The total number of cases reported in the United States each year is over 350,000. This is a number that is simply astounding, it means that nearly half the population of South Dakota would be abducted every year if the statistic was applied to that state. For parents that have had their child abducted, organizations such as the Child Abduction Resource Center can really help the fight for the child’s safe return.

The website, http://www.globalmissing.com, offers a variety of useful resources and information to users of the website. They have all the latest news regarding child abduction available on the site and is updated regularly by Google News. There are a few different types of videos to watch on the CARC site. Informative videos are on there so that people can learn about topics such as parental abduction, and there are also videos of children that have been abducted. Having the face of a missing child being posted on a website like this can really bring attention to the situation and the exposure can help to bring the child home safely. Also, for parents that have experienced child abduction, there is a missing child resource that can be used to create a missing flyer for their child using the template provided. The flyers can then be printed in either English or Spanish and distributed within their community or anywhere else that the parents choose to place the posters.

One of the most important features of this website is the survival guide that is available to parents. It is a page that meticulously details every part of the child abduction process and what role the parents can play in their child’s safe return. The guide explains how the media should be dealt with, how to make good use of volunteers, and how to regain personal and emotional strength, just to name a few things. This really is the perfect guide for parents that have been put in this heartbreaking situation. There are also essays and articles dealing with child abduction, abuse, and child rights. Visiting the Child Abduction Resource Center is a must for parents, regardless of whether they can handle the issue alone or not. There is no shame in getting some help, and Globalmissing.com can provide help in many different ways.

Child Abduction

We previously posted an article about organizations that were fighting hard in the battle for preventing and dealing with instances where children have gone missing or been abducted, but there are so many groups out there that deserve recognition that we decided to publish another article to increase awareness about the public services that they are providing us all. Many of us know how big of a problem child abduction is, but there are people out there that want to help but do not know what they can do. These are some of the organizations that are out on the front lines, and any help that they can get is going to benefit the children of our country in the end.

In Nevada, groups like the Nevada Child Seekers have been helping to find missing or abducted children for quite some time, but they are the only one that is not charging a penny for what they do. The program was created in 1985, incorporated in 1996, and still going strong in 2009. Their website has information on what to do if your child is missing and how to report it, photos of missing children, and support groups are available to parents as well. Donating to their organization can help them, and in turn Nevada’s children, quite a bit. In 2008 the donations that they received allowed them to provide 3,000 child identification packets, provide abduction prevention education to over 13,000 school children, parents and school administrators, and search assistance and case management for 351 kids. Nevada Child Seekers is a member of the Association for Missing and Exploited Children Organizations (AMECO) giving them an International network to assist in the search for missing and abducted children.

For people that have a child that is missing, the Child Search Ministries is doing plenty to keep hope alive. They are providing families with crisis counseling, there are trained professionals that go out to search for children for absolutely no charge, and they help to distribute images of the missing child on television programs, magazines, flyers, mail, and the Internet. Child Search Ministries also run prevention training seminars and there is a hotline for parents to use (1-800-316-HOPE) to report abductions. On the front page of their website, you can see dozens of photos of both children that are currently missing and kids that have been found because of their efforts. Visit the site to join their mailing list, or if you would like to get involved you find out how to become a volunteer.

Another organization that has been around for 25 years is the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Their group mainly focuses on missing children, sexual exploitation, sex offenders, and child safety. Their website makes it very easy to report a sighting of a missing child or provide information regarding child pornography or any other related crimes. There is an electronic tipline that visitors can use for reporting and there is a hotline as well (1-800-843-5678). The amount of resources available for parents, attorneys, law enforcement, childcare providers, and the media is plentiful as well. You can read about how you can keep your children safe and teach them to make good decisions. Get involved with NCMEC by adding a banner or link on your website or donating to them directly.

Along with the other groups mentioned, the Committee for Missing Children is also dedicated to helping parents and finding missing children. Their rate of success should provide parents with a good deal of reassurance. They have distributed millions of images of 1500 missing kids since they first started in 1991 and they have assisted in the reunion of over 1200 of those children with their parents. Their website has an entire database of missing children and visitors can see them state by state. There is a great deal of information about attorneys that parents can look through, safety tips for parents and kids to look through. A newsletter is available so that people can stay up to date with the Committee’s happenings. Donations can help the group keep their great rate of success and more importantly it would help children find their way back home.

As long as there are great organizations out there that are doing whatever is in their power to help find missing children and provide these services to the public, Laws.com will keep reporting on them so that their exposure can increase. The more people that know about these groups, the more people will be seeing the images of these missing children.

Help Find Missing Children

Children go missing in the United States at a very alarming rate. Even when parents are trying their hardest to make sure that they are aware of their child’s activities, Internet use, and the company they keep, there are still hundreds of thousands of cases where kids still go missing. It is all of our responsibilities to help out in any way that we can, because if we are ever put in the same situation, we would want the same support and assistance to get us through a difficult time and hopefully reunite with our loved ones. The organizations that are profiled below are just a few that are helping out the cause by bringing these cases to our attention.

Visiting the AmberWatch Foundation website will immediately show you the gravity of the situation. Right at the top of the page it says that “On average, a child is reported missing every 40 seconds” and there is a counter that shows how many children have been reported missing since you first entered their website. The main goal of this group is to provide children and parents information that will help to prevent child abductions. Their belief is that the more that we talk about important issues such as these, the more people will learn about the subject, and that is absolutely true. The foundation’s “Be Safe!” program is educating the public by presenting their curriculum in schools, distributing their informative books, creating print, radio, and television public service announcements, and making personal safety devices available to kids.

Another program that has been developed to help prevent child abductions and educate families is the Kidguard Safety Program that was developed by Child Watch of North America. Their website includes pictures and information about children that are currently missing, complete with computer enhanced images that show what the child would look like today. The Child Watch group and the Kidguard Safety program were both formed in 1993. The program provides personal identification cards for kids with their photograph and fingerprint since having an up to date picture of a missing child is the most important part of the search. All of the programs that are provided by Child Watch are completely free.

One of the organizations that has dedicated themselves to finding missing, abducted, and runaway children is Operation Lookout. They have been reuniting parents with their children for over 25 years and are still helping families today. Their website includes a hotline that parents can call if their child is missing (1-800-LOOKOUT) and speak with somebody no matter what time of day it is. The site also has several ways that you can contribute to the cause, including a link to a page where anybody can donate. There are several educational resources as well, like an explanation of how the Amber Alert works, how to get schools involved, stories about abducted and found children, along with many other articles and tools for families.

There is one group that has been providing children with not only knowledge about how to prevent harm or abduction, but also what they can do if they find themselves in a harmful situation. Kids Fighting Chance has instructional videos available on their website that shows children step by step how they can respond to an attacker so that they can stun them long enough to escape. The Give Kids a Fighting Chance video also shows how to keep from being put into a vehicle, disable the vehicle if they are already in it, and bring attention to the scene so that they can get away. The techniques and skills that are offered through these videos can be very useful in dangerous circumstances and it is a good idea for kids to know how they can empower themselves.

If you or somebody you know has had an experience with child abduction, and even if you have not, read about how this problem is affecting people and how you can help out. Although the scope of these projects are much larger, if even one child is reunited with their child through the efforts of these organizations, it will be worth it.

Kids

To end this week out we are posting another article that highlights more of the fantastic organizations out there that are helping children in a real way. All of these groups provide their services to certain areas or states and are continuing to grow and expand on a regular basis.

Since we are right smack dab in the middle of national adoption month, it is a must that we bring attention to the Kansas Children’s Service League to people’s attention. Their “Heart to Home Adoption Program” is helping parents that are looking to adopt children as well as pregnant mothers that are considering adoption by bringing these people together. Anyone that is interested in this program can find out all about it on their website. Along with this program, the site also has information about preventing child abuse, training for future foster and adoptive parents, and there are quite a few events as well. The Kansas Children’s Service League has been serving the state for over 100 years, and if you would like to find out more about them or donate to their group, all the information you need can be found right on their website.

There is a center for child abuse victims in Morristown, NJ by the name of Deirdre’s House. It was named after Deirdre O’Brien, a young woman that was abudcted, raped, and murdered by a serial murderer in 1994. Since then, her parents Jim and Georgia have dedicated themselves to help victims of crime, and that is how Deirdre’s House came about. Formerly known as the Deirdre O’Brien Child Advocacy Center, this is the only place in Morris County where children can be interviewed and digitally recorded by police. The children are medically examined by a pediatric abuse specialist, prepared for trial, and clinically counseled as well. Even with all that goes on at this center, they still have programs available to the public, events that educate people about sexual abuse and violence, and plenty of information for visitors of the website. Take a look for yourself to find out more.

Recently celebrating their twenty year anniversary is the child abuse prevention group Dunebrook. They have been rallying for child advocacy in LaPorte County, Indiana and providing the community with prevention programs that have been really helping the cause. Dunebrook participates in community events, raises awareness through the use of billboards and the media, and partakes in community vigils as well. There are a number of programs that they provide, some of them being nurturing programs, prenatal substance abuse prevention, healthy family programs, and child safety programs. Resources for parents, professionals, and teachers can be found on their website, along with articles on putting an end to child abuse. What Dunebrook is doing for LaPorte County is very admirable, and if you want to help them to continue their efforts, visit the sites and donate.

Back in the state of New Jersey, there is an organization that has been putting their hearts and souls into preventing child abuse, whether it is physical, emotion, neglect, or any other form. Prevent Child Abuse New Jersey was incorporated thirty years ago in 1979. Their programs have been very useful to New Jersey parents and teens, and the statistics that have been collected on them have been proving that. The Parent Linking Program allows teen parents to continue their schooling while learning how to become responsible parents at the same time. There are also family literacy, family outreach, community education, and professional training programs. For more information you can visit their website, call their toll free number (1-800-CHILDREN), follow them on Twitter, or friend PCANJ on Facebook.

The Child Abuse Council is a group that has been serving the Quad Cities since 1977. For those of you that are unaware, the Quad Cities is an area that covers portions of both Illinois and Iowa. The CAC has been helping to solve the problem by increasing awareness through the use of speakers at community events, there are programs that match new parents with trained volunteers to provide emotional support and educate them on how raise their children in a healthy way, and also links new parents with health care providers and any other resources that they may need. Another great function of the Child Abuse Function is that they show people how to become child advocates so that they can help children by getting to know and speaking with elected officials. Quad City residents can also write policy-makers to let them know their position on important child related policies.

The next stop is California, where the Child Abuse Prevention of Butte County group has been working to strengthen families since 1975. Since their start, they have contributed to the establishment of child abuse investigation teams, teams that provide child abuse identification training, and a committee that developed a perinatal substance abuse screening method, just to name a few of their accomplishments. What is really special about this council is that they form alliances with other organizations and groups so that they can share information and resources, making it that much easier to help children. The goal of the CAPBC group is to educate the community, advocating for child abuse legislation, and promoting healthy families. Take a look at their website to get detailed information about their mission and the steps they are taking to achieve it.

These organizations are the leaders of child abuse prevention and advocacy for their respective states or local areas. Without people that are willing to provide some of their time or money to these causes, they will not be able to function at the high levels that they currently are. Visit these websites and find out how you can contribute.

Serving Child Abuse

Nonprofit organizations across the country are developing solutions to inform individuals and governing bodies on the effects and solutions to sexual abuse and violence against children. Each organization focuses on this work, playing its part, but without working together, the mission each stands to complete is disabled in the landscape of service. Each organization acts as a member of the body no matter what the state and approach to their efforts. This function of unity from state to state is a picture of the highway to reaching national goals, working to reduce the problem of abuse and preventing it from occurring all together.

Three different aspects of this critical topic will be reviewed here. Through the lens of different nonprofit organizations; all with similar missions, but a different approach to service it is possible to see value of each part as it makes up the whole function of service. First, prevention techniques are offered through education and information campaigns. This sets the stage to drive programming and tactics that help children overcome when victimized. Finally, the hopeful result is a commitment to large scale information campaigns and public policy movements to engender interest and tighten consequences against offenders. These are just a few of the nations leading programs in the fight against abuse.

Knowing that the consequences of abuse are so detrimental to the development of children, the Idaho Children Trust Fund/Prevent Child Abuse Idaho is working to prevent child abuse and neglect before it ever happens. The organization funds, trains and provides technical assistance to community based programs that provide parenting education, home visitation, child sexual abuse awareness and family support services. All of its prevention work is based on strengthening families through building five protective factors that all families need to provide a nurturing environment for children. With its focus more on the family, looking at the positive before the negative, this program offers a very laboratory-based feel to its work, setting the stage of caring through the information it provides. The Idaho Children’s Trust Fund operates through programs that share similar missions. Check out the available resources and publications on its practices: http://idahochildrenstrustfund. idaho.gov

Following in its stead is the New York based Child Abuse Prevention Program (CAPP) which functions at the management level, or the second stage. CAPP is helping children to remain informed about staying safe and avoiding harmful and threatening situations. Using a host of creative and playful training and workshop sessions for children, CAPP is diligently supporting fundraising initiatives to keep children informed and programming in operation. Through CAPP, children can learn the signs and responses, and adults are educated on how to safeguard children from predators. Sustainable development is essential to its operations, so without the help of community and donating bodies, the children they serve may not be reached. If you are interested in donating and offering your support, please take a look at their site here: http://childabusepreventionprogram.org/about.html

The final approach to tackling child sexual abuse plays out in the legislative agencies, public policy institutions and the medical facilities that respond to victims and help crack down on offenders. The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape takes a rather aggressive approach in this realm of service. With 52 centers across Pennsylvania alone, the organization focuses on ensuring that victims are quickly responded to and have the care they require to be relieved. When abuse has taken place, PCAR is the body that moves to service the policy, legal and medical stages of response. Their body of research and capacity to help is beyond the scope of this article, so check them out: http://www.pcar.org/centers/index.html

Child Abuse

It is very often that people are aware that abuse is occurring, but they do no take the necessary steps to help and take children out of that situation. There are children that have grown up being abused from a very young age, by the very people that provide them with food, clothing, and shelter. It may be very difficult for them to take action and protect themselves from further danger, especially if it is all they have ever known. Kids will be worried about what is in store for them in the future, what is going to happen to their parents whom they love and care for, and what type of physical repercussions they may face. Many children may even be unaware that it is abnormal for parents to hurt their spawn in such a way, and reporting it may not have even crossed their mind.

For these children that are unable or unwilling to help themselves, the general public has to do their part and recognize when there is a situation that is going require their intervention. Somebody needs to step up and show parents that the way that they are treating their children is unacceptable, otherwise the abusers will continue to abuse, and the kids will continue to suffer. Doing something to stand in the way of kids and those that are committing violence upon them will be appreciated by victims for the rest of their lives, even if they never have a chance to communicate that personally.

Every state in America has at least one number that citizens can call if they think that the maltreatment of children is occurring somewhere. Having the bravery to make that call can make all the difference in these young lives, and the direction that they go in could be completely in the palm of your hands. Statistics have shown that past sufferers of abuse are much more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, have unprotected sex with multiple partners, females are more likely to become pregnant as a teen, and the chances of violent crimes by victims is also higher as well. It is also important to note that the chances of people that were abused as children going on to abuse their own children in the future is much higher as well. This creates a cycle of violence that is not going to be easy to stop if people do not do everything that is in their ability to keep the kids in their communities or neighborhoods safe.

Child Abuse Hotlines

If you suspect that a child’s health or safety is in jeopardy due to abuse or neglect by parents or other caretaker, contact the appropriate child abuse hotline number to report the details. The information provided may be freely reproduced.

Alabama
Local (toll): (334) 242-9500

http://www.dhr.state.al.us/page.asp?pageid=347
Click on the website above for information on reporting.

Alaska
Toll-Free: (800) 478-4444

http://www.hss.state.ak.us/ocs/default.htm

Arizona
Toll-Free: (888) SOS-CHILD (888-767-2445)

https://www.azdes.gov/dcyf/cps/reporting.asp

Arkansas
Toll-Free: (800) 482-5964

http://www.state.ar.us/dhs/chilnfam/child_protective_services.htm

California
http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/cdssweb/PG20.htm
Click on the website above for information on reporting.

Colorado
Local (toll): (303) 866-5932

http://www.cdhs.state.co.us/childwelfare/FAQ.htm
Click on the website above for information on reporting.

Connecticut
TDD: (800) 624-5518
Toll-Free: (800) 842-2288

http://www.state.ct.us/dcf/HOTLINE.htm

Delaware
Toll-Free: (800) 292-9582

http://kids.delaware.gov/services/crisis.shtml

District of Columbia
Local (toll): (202) 671-SAFE (202-671-7233)

http://cfsa.dc.gov/cfsa/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=520663&cfsaNav=|31319|

Florida
Toll-Free: (800) 96-ABUSE (800-962-2873)

http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/abuse/

Georgia
Toll-Free: (404)-651-9361 (phone)
Toll-Free: (404)-657-4483 (fax)
http://dfcs.dhr.georgia.gov/portal/site/DHS-DFCS/
Click on the website above for information on reporting.

Hawaii
Local (toll): (808) 832-5300

http://www.hawaii.gov/dhs/protection/social_services/child_welfare/

Idaho
TDD: (208) 332-7205
Toll-Free: (800) 926-2588

http://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/Children/AbuseNeglect/ChildProtectionContactPhoneNumbers/tabid/475/Default.aspx

Illinois
Toll-Free: (800) 252-2873
Local (toll): (217) 524-2606

http://www.state.il.us/dcfs/child/index.shtml

Indiana
Toll-Free: (800) 800-5556

http://www.in.gov/dcs/protection/dfcchi.html

Iowa
Toll-Free: (800) 362-2178

http://www.dhs.state.ia.us/dhs2005/dhs_homepage/children_family/abuse_reporting/child_abuse.html

Kansas
Toll-Free: (800) 922-5330

http://www.srskansas.org/services/child_protective_services.htm

Kentucky
Toll-Free: (800) 752-6200

http://chfs.ky.gov/dcbs/dpp/childsafety.htm

Louisiana
http://www.dss.state.la.us/index.cfm?md=pagebuilder&tmp=home&pid=108
Click on the website above for information on reporting.

Maine
TTY: (800) 963-9490
Toll-Free: (800) 452-1999

http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/ocfs/hotlines.htm

Maryland
http://www.dhr.state.md.us/cps/report.htm
Click on the website above for information on reporting.

Massachusetts
Toll-Free: (800) 792-5200

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eohhs2subtopic&L=4&L0=Home&L1=Consumer&L2=Family+Services&L3=Violence%2c+Abuse+or+Neglect&sid=Eeohhs2

Michigan
Toll-Free: (800) 942-4357

http://www.michigan.gov/dhs/0,1607,7-124-5452_7119—,00.html

Minnesota
http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/idcplg?IdcService=GET_DYNAMIC_CONVERSION&RevisionSelectionMethod=LatestReleased&dDocName=id_000152
Click on the website above for information on reporting.

Mississippi
Toll-Free: (800) 222-8000
Local (toll): (601) 359-4991

http://www.mdhs.state.ms.us/fcs_prot.html

Missouri
Toll-Free: (800) 392-3738
Local (toll): (573) 751-3448

http://www.dss.mo.gov/cd/rptcan.htm

Montana
Toll-Free: (866) 820-5437

http://www.dphhs.mt.gov/cfsd/index.shtml

Nebraska
Toll-Free: (800) 652-1999

http://www.hhs.state.ne.us/cha/chaindex.htm

Nevada
Toll-Free: (800) 992-5757

http://dcfs.state.nv.us/DCFS_ReportSuspectedChildAbuse.htm

New Hampshire
Toll-Free: (800) 894-5533
Local (toll): (603) 271-6556

http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/DHHS/BCP/default.htm

New Jersey
TDD: (800) 835-5510
TTY: (800) 835-5510
Toll-Free: (877) 652-2873

http://www.state.nj.us/dcf/abuse/how/

New Mexico
Toll-Free: (800) 797-3260
Local (toll): (505) 841-6100

http://www.cyfd.org/content/reporting-abuse-or-neglect

New York
TDD: (800) 369-2437
Toll-Free: (800) 342-3720
Local (toll): (518) 474-8740

http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/cps/

North Carolina
http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/dss/cps/index.htm
Click on the website above for information on reporting.

North Dakota
http://www.nd.gov/dhs/services/childfamily/cps/#reporting
Click on the website above for information on reporting.

Ohio
http://jfs.ohio.gov/county/cntydir.stm
Contact the county Public Children Services Agency using the list above.

Oklahoma
Toll-Free: (800) 522-3511

http://www.okdhs.org/programsandservices/cps/default.htm

Oregon
http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/children/abuse/cps/report.shtml
Click on the website above for information on reporting.

Pennsylvania
Toll-Free: (800) 932-0313

http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/ServicesPrograms/ChildWelfare/003671030.htm

Puerto Rico
Toll-Free: (800) 981-8333
Local (toll): (787) 749-1333
Spanish Information on Website: http://www.gobierno.pr/GPRPortal/StandAlone/AgencyInformation.aspx?Filter=177

Rhode Island
Toll-Free: (800) RI-CHILD (800-742-4453)

http://www.dcyf.ri.gov/child_welfare/index.php

South Carolina
Local (toll): (803) 898-7318

http://dss.sc.gov/content/customers/protection/cps/index.aspx
Click on the website above for information on reporting.

South Dakota
http://dss.sd.gov/cps/protective/reporting.asp
Click on the website above for information on reporting.

Tennessee
Toll-Free: (877) 237-0004

http://state.tn.us/youth/childsafety.htm

Texas
Toll-Free: (800) 252-5400

https://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_Protection/About_Child_Protective_Services/reportChildAbuse.asp

Utah
Toll-Free: (800) 678-9399

http://www.hsdcfs.utah.gov

Vermont
After hours: (800) 649-5285

http://www.dcf.state.vt.us/fsd/reporting_child_abuse

Virginia
Toll-Free: (800) 552-7096
Local (toll): (804) 786-8536

http://www.dss.virginia.gov/family/cps/index.html

Washington
TTY: (800) 624-6186
Toll-Free: (800) 562-5624
(866) END-HARM (866-363-4276)

http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/ca/safety/abuseReport.asp?2

West Virginia
Toll-Free: (800) 352-6513

http://www.wvdhhr.org/bcf/children_adult/cps/report.asp

Wisconsin
http://dcf.wisconsin.gov/children/CPS/cpswimap.HTM
Click on the website above for information on reporting.

Wyoming
http://dfsweb.state.wy.us/ProtectiveSvc/programs/cps/Report.htm
Click on the website above for information on reporting.

The information provided may be reproduced freely and without the consent of Laws.com.

Accident Attorneys

There are many cases where personal injury and accidents take place, and when the victims of these accidents need a place to turn, they look to accident attorneys to represent there case in court. Accident attorney represent victims who have been in accidents which are the result of another persons negligence. There are many way in which the victims of one of these accidents can find the right accident attorney to represent there case in the court of law, and sometimes depending on the severity of the case and how the lawyer feels, he or she may choose to work as a pro bono attorney on the particular accident case. A pro bono attorney works at no charge to the client, win or lose.

A pro bono attorney works for no fee or no charge in order to help the client because the pro bono attonrey feels that this case is for the public good and can greatly benefit the client. Not all attorneys work as pro bono attorney, but given the right case and the right client, it is very possible to find a pro bono attorney. Many accident attorneys may even work as pro bono attorney given the right case where they may feel so inclined as to work free of charge for the client depending on the back round of the case. Many accident attorneys are easy to come by, and most of the time, the best way to come by a good accident attorney is by word of mouth. Accident attorneys and pro bono attorney also get involved with websites which serve as directories, such as newlawyer.com which allows all types of lawyers and attorneys, from accident attorneys to pro bono attorney free profile which allows them to create an about me section allowing future clients to search with in there city and state and view a list of lawyers, accident attorneys, and pro bono attorneys with in the future clients area.

Another great way to find an accident attorney or a pro bono attorney is using lawyer rating web sites on the Internet which allow future clients to read reviews and feedback ratings from other clients who have used these lawyers or attorneys. This helps clients make educated decisions when choosing the right accident attorney, and even allows the client to see which accident attorney will work as a pro bono attorney. If you were looking for an accident attorney or even wanted to see if you could find a law firm which has pro bono attorney, using the Internet to make contact with these attorney and receive a consolation is a great way make a decision about a lawyer or attorney.

Now that you have an understanding of the different ways in which you could find the right pro bono attorney or accident attorney to represent your case, by utilizing these online tools, you can find the right lawyer who has the credentials and experience it takes to win your case in the court of law.