What Happens if I Tell?

Telling an adult that you are being hurt is a very brave thing to do. Most kids are really afraid of what is going to happen if they tell. We’re going to try to tell you what will happen so that it is not as scary.

When you tell an adult (especially someone like a doctor or teacher), he or she will probably make a call to a group called DSS, which stands for “Department of Social Services.” In some States, this group is called CPS, or “Child Protective Services,” instead. The people who work at DSS (or CPS) are social workers. They care about kids a lot and want to make sure that you are safe.

DSS will send one of these social workers to come talk with you. The social worker will ask you questions about your family and about how you have been hurt. It may be hard to talk about some things - that’s okay. The social worker knows this - he or she will be patient and help you. The social worker may ask if he or she could take your picture to remember just what you looked like when he or she met you. The social worker may also want you to have a check-up by a doctor, just to make sure that you are okay.

The social worker will also talk to your parents, your brothers and sisters, and anyone else who lives with you. If you are worried about this or scared to go home, you should tell the social worker. He or she will make sure that you are safe.

After the social worker talks with everyone, he or she will decide how best to help your family. If you are being hurt very badly, the social worker might think that it is a good idea for you to stay somewhere else (like with a relative or friend) for a little while. But you will get to go back home as soon as things are safe and the social workers are sure that your mom or dad will not hurt you anymore. Usually, DSS will talk to your family and work out a plan to help them take care of you and keep you safe. The social worker may find a psychologist (say si-kol-o-jist) or counselor for you to talk to. Psychologists and counselors are people who talk with kids and help them feel better. When kids are hurt, they often feel very confused. They may think that the abuse was their fault or that they could have stopped it. They may be really sad. They may be really angry, and that anger may come out at school instead of at home. The counselor can help you talk about these things so that you feel better.