Federal legislation provides guidance to States by identifying a minimum set of acts or behaviors that define child abuse and neglect. The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) (42 U.S.C.A. § 5106g), as amended by the CAPTA Reauthorization Act of 2010, defines child abuse and neglect as, at minimum:

"Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation"; or

"An act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm."

This definition of child abuse and neglect refers specifically to parents and other caregivers. A "child" under this definition generally means a person who is younger than age 18 or who is not an emancipated minor.

While CAPTA provides definitions for sexual abuse and the special cases of neglect related to withholding or failing to provide medically indicated treatment, it does not provide specific definitions for other types of maltreatment such as physical abuse, neglect, or emotional abuse.

While Federal legislation sets minimum standards for States that accept CAPTA funding, each State provides its own definitions of maltreatment within civil and criminal statutes.

HELP AND HOTLINES:

Need help? Call a hotline and talk to someone.

If your parent or caretaker is abusing you, you deserve better. It's not your fault. There are people that can help you and your situation can get better, but only if the adult gets help and is held accountable for his/her action. Again, it is not your fault. 

Toll-Free Crisis Hotline Numbers provided by Child Welfare:

Child Abuse

Childhelp^®
Phone: 800.4.A.CHILD (800.422.4453)
Whom They Help: Child abuse victims, parents, concerned individuals

Child Sexual Abuse

Darkness to Light
Phone: 866.FOR.LIGHT (866.367.5444)
Whom They Help: Children and adults needing local information or resources about sexual abuse

Family Violence

National Domestic Violence Hotline
Phone: 800.799.SAFE (800.799.7233)
Whom They Help: Children, parents, friends, offenders

Help for Parents

National Parent Helpline®
Phone: 855.4APARENT (855.427.2736) (available 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., PST, weekdays) 
Whom They Help: Parents and caregivers needing emotional support and links to resources

Human Trafficking

National Human Trafficking Hotline
Phone: 888.373.7888
Whom They Help: Victims of human trafficking and those reporting potential trafficking situations

Mental Illness

National Alliance on Mental Illness
Phone: 800.950.NAMI (800.950.6264)
Whom They Help: Individuals, families, professionals

Missing/Abducted Children

Child Find of America
Phone: 800.I.AM.LOST (800.426.5678)
Whom They Help: Parents reporting lost or abducted children, including parental abductions

Child Find of America—Mediation
Phone: 800.A.WAY.OUT (800.292.9688)
Whom They Help: Parents (abduction, prevention, child custody issues)

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
Phone: 800.THE.LOST (800.843.5678)
Whom They Help: Families and professionals (social services, law enforcement)

Rape/Incest

Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)
Phone: 800.656.HOPE (800.656.4673)
Whom They Help: Rape and incest victims, media, policymakers, concerned individuals

Substance Abuse

National Alcohol and Substance Abuse Information Center
Phone: 800.784.6776
Whom They Help: Families, professionals, media, policymakers, concerned individuals

Suicide Prevention

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Phone: 800.273.8255
Whom They Help: Families, concerned individuals

Youth in Trouble/Runaways

National Runaway Switchboard
Phone: 800.RUNAWAY (800.786.2929)

Whom They Help: Runaway and homeless youth, families