Child Abuse is maltreatment or non-accidental serious harm to a child by any person age fourteen years or older.

4 Basic Types of Abuse

• Neglect
• Physical
• Mental/Emotional
• Sexual

Child neglect is failure by a parent or caregiver to provide basic needs of a child (health, welfare, and safety).

7 Basic Types of Neglect

• Abandonment
• Failure to thrive - poor growth pattern
• Inadequate clothing/personal hygiene -consistently dirty; severe body odor; insufficient clothing for weather
• Inadequate food - begs or steals food or money; malnutrition
• Inadequate shelter - constant fatigue, listlessness, falls asleep
• Inadequate supervision - left alone, truancy
• Medical neglect

To anonymously report suspected child abuse or neglect, please contact the Jefferson County Department of Human Resources (DHR) at (205) 423-4850.

Click here to read about Erin’s Law