24/7 Hotline
Suspected child abuse or neglect should be reported to Child Protective Services (CPS). They operate a 24-hour, 7-day a week hotline:
There is a nationwide crisis line which is open 24/7 where people can text! As we know, this is teens’ preferred method of communication.
Prevent Child Abuse Lake County is not a reporting agency and does not take abuse or neglect reports.
There is an office in each Indiana county that is the primary agency responsible to assess or arrange for an assessment of all reports of known or suspected child abuse or neglect. The Indiana Department of Child Services must:
- Provide protective services to prevent a child’s exposure to further abuse or neglect. The Indiana Department of Child Services must provide or arrange for, coordinate, and monitor the provision of services to ensure the safety of children. Reasonable efforts must be made to prevent a child’s removal from the home.
- Cooperate with and seek and receive cooperation of appropriate public and private agencies and programs providing services related to prevention, identification or treatment of child abuse or neglect.
- Maintain confidentiality. All reports made to Indiana Department of Child Services are confidential and may only be released to Indiana Department of Child Services workers, police, prosecutors, doctors, or other authorized personnel.