Request help
or report abuse.
If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse or neglect call the Statewide Abuse and Neglect Hotline today!
1-800-522-3511
If you believe your life or the life of another is in danger, call the police!
What is abuse?
-
Child abuse is defined by law (Title 10A, Section 1-1-105) as harm, threatened harm, or failure to protect from harm or threatened harm, to the health, safety, or welfare of a child by a person responsible for the child’s health, safety, or welfare, including, but not limited to, non-accidental physical or mental injury, sexual abuse, or sexual exploitation.
-
Harm or threatened harm to the health or safety of a child means any real or threatened physical, mental, or emotional injury or damage to the body or mind that is not accidental, including, but not limited to, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, neglect, or dependency.
-
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse is any act, regardless of intent, that results in physical injury or threat of physical injury to a child. Physical abuse may result when a child is kicked, thrown, shaken, burned, cut, choked, squeezed or otherwise battered.
Sexual Abuse or Exploitation
Child sexual abuse is the exploitation of a child for the sexual gratification of an adult or significantly older person. It is called incest if it occurs between a child and any family member.
According to Oklahoma law, sexual abuse includes but is not limited to incest, rape, and lewd or indecent acts or proposals made to a child. Sexual exploitation includes but is not limited to allowing, permitting or encouraging a child to engage in prostitution, lewd, obscene, or pornographic photographing, filming, or the depiction of a child in those acts. Sexual abuse can also include verbal stimulation, obscene phone calls, exposure, voyeurism, fondling, attempted intercourse, and vaginal, oral, or anal intercourse.
NeglectNeglect is the failure or omission to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care, supervision, special care that is made necessary by the physical and mental condition of the child, or abandonment.
-
If you suspect child abuse call:
Oklahoma Hotline – 800.522.3511
National Hotline – 800-4ACHILD (800.422.4453)
If you believe your life or the life of another is in danger, call the police –911
Failure to report suspected child abuse is a crime in Oklahoma.
State law (Title 10A, Section 1-2-101) requires EVERY PERSON who has reason to believe that a child under 18 is a victim of abuse to report the suspicion of abuse immediately to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS).
A report of suspected child abuse is a request for an investigation to gather facts and protect the child from further harm. The person reporting the abuse does not need to prove abuse prior to reporting. Investigation and determination of abuse are the responsibility of DHS, law enforcement, and the judicial system.