Is Someone Hurting a Child, and No One is Listening?

You Can Insure An Abused Or Neglected Child Does Not Slip Through the Cracks.

How to Report Child Abuse and Neglect

(Para Español, Haga Clic Aquí)

STEP ONE: Take action if you witness or suspect that a child is abused, neglected, or exploited

DO: Call the Child Abuse Reporting Number for your California county, or contact your local Police or Sheriff’s Department and report your concern. You can call anonymously, unless you are an official mandated reporter.

EXPECT: The County Child Welfare Agency must conduct a risk assessment to decide whether the child needs protection.

FOLLOW UP: The County Child Welfare Agency will not share information about their investigation with you.

STEP TWO: If after reporting you continue to suspect child abuse, neglect, or exploitation

DO: Ask the County Child Welfare Agency to immediately commence court proceedings to bring the child under the protection of the juvenile court by filing the Juvenile Court Form JV-210. For detailed information about how to file the JV-210, see Advokids Legal Tools/For Anyone Seeking A Child's Protection through Juvenile Court.

EXPECT: The County Child Welfare Agency must immediately investigate the child’s situation after receiving the JV-210.

FOLLOW UP: Within three weeks, the County Child Welfare Agency must send you the JV-210 form to notify you of their decision. If they decide not to bring the child under the protection of the court they must state their reasons on the form.

STEP THREE: If The County Child Welfare Agency Does Not Seek Court Protection Of The Child

DO: If the County Child Welfare Agency decides not to seek protection, you may go directly to the juvenile court and ask for review of the agency’s decision, using Juvenile Court Form JV-212. For detailed information about how to file the JV-212, see Advokids Legal Tools/For Anyone Seeking A Child's Protection through Juvenile Court.

EXPECT: You will receive a call or letter from the juvenile court clerk telling you whether the court decided to bring the child under its protection.

FOLLOW UP: There is no timeframe within which the court must make a decision, but you can expect a prompt response. These requests are rare and will be treated with great urgency.

Need Help?

Call Advokids' Hotline at 877.238.4543

Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 4:30 pm

Read Gabriel Hernandez' Story.

Use Our Media Tools to Help Spread Awareness.

Legal Disclaimer: Advokids provides educational information and resources to those who use our website, call our hotline, or submit requests for information via the website. Any information provided may not be construed as the giving of legal advice to any person about a particular legal matter and should not be relied upon as the basis for taking a particular action or refraining from taking a particular action in any legal matter. If you want or need legal advice about a particular legal matter, you should consult a lawyer.

Mailing List Signup

Join the Advokids mailing list and stay connected to our work to fight for the right of every child in California to safety, security, and a permanent home.

 

Contact Advokids

5643 Paradise Drive, Suite 12B
Corte Madera, CA 94925

11833 Mississippi Ave., 1st floor
Los Angeles, CA 90025

415.924.0587