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Introduction
Mandated reporters fail to report child abuse and maltreatment/neglect because they feel they cannot identify abuse correctly and they feel they do not know the correct procedure for reporting. Additionally, people sometimes fear that reporting child abuse or maltreatment will destroy a family. The truth, however, is that reporting should lead to getting help for the family by protecting the child from further suffering and harm and by assisting the family in facing and overcoming its problems.
It is not only the professionals that are involved in making many reports. Nearly half of the reports came from nonprofessional sources, such as parents, other relatives, friends, and neighbors. Anonymous reports accounted for 10 percent of all reports in 2002. It is important for everyone to know the signs that may indicate maltreatment and how to report it. We all share a responsibility to help keep children safe as we take steps to prevent abuse from occurring in the first place.
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