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    • Home
    • About
      • What is CASA
      • Mission, Vision & Values
      • The Children We Serve
      • CASA History
      • CASA Fundraisers
      • Donate
      • FAQ
      • Impact & Associations
    • Services
      • Advocacy
      • Case Managment
      • Foster Care Closet
      • Support Groups
      • Community Resources
      • Advocate Resources
      • Report Abuse or Neglect
    • Staff
    • Become an Advocate
    • Request an Advocate
    • Contact
  • Home
  • About
    • What is CASA
    • Mission, Vision & Values
    • The Children We Serve
    • CASA History
    • CASA Fundraisers
    • Donate
    • FAQ
    • Impact & Associations
  • Services
    • Advocacy
    • Case Managment
    • Foster Care Closet
    • Support Groups
    • Community Resources
    • Advocate Resources
    • Report Abuse or Neglect
  • Staff
  • Become an Advocate
  • Request an Advocate
  • Contact

Hillsdale CASA, Inc
Court Appointed Special Advocates

Hillsdale CASA, Inc Court Appointed Special AdvocatesHillsdale CASA, Inc Court Appointed Special AdvocatesHillsdale CASA, Inc Court Appointed Special Advocates

Change a child's story, change a child's life.

REPORTING ABUSE OR NEGLECT IN MICHIGAN

Anyone, including a child, who suspects child abuse or neglect, can make a report by calling 855-444-3911. 


In addition, the Child Protection Law requires certain professionals to report suspected child abuse or neglect. These professionals are called Mandated Reporters. 


Identifying Child Abuse & Neglect

Below are some of the commonly accepted physical and behavioral indicators of abuse and/or neglect. Please note that the physical and behavioral indicators listed are not the only indicators of child abuse and neglect and if present, do not always mean a child is being abused or neglected. 


Physical Neglect - Physical Indicators 

  • Unattended medical needs.
  • Lack of supervision.
  • Regular signs of hunger, inappropriate dress, poor hygiene.
  • Distended stomach, emaciated.
  • Significant weight change.

Physical Neglect - Behavioral Indicators 

  • Regularly displays fatigue or listlessness, falls asleep in class.
  • Steals/hoards food, begs from classmates.
  • Reports that no caretaker is at home.

Physical Abuse - Physical Indicators 

  • Unexplained bruises (in various stages of healing), welts, loop marks.
  • Adult/human bite marks.
  • Bald spots or missing clumps of hair.
  • Unexplained burns/scalds.
  • Unexplained fractures, skin lacerations/punctures or abrasions.
  • Swollen lips/chipped teeth. 
  • Linear/parallel marks on cheeks and temple area. 
  • Crescent-shaped bruising. 
  • Puncture wounds. 
  • Bruising behind the ears. 

Physical Abuse - Behavioral Indicators 

  • Self-destructive/self-mutilation.
  • Withdrawn and/or aggressive-behavior extremes.
  • Uncomfortable/skittish with physical contact.
  • Arrives at school late or stays late as if afraid to be at home.
  • Chronic runaway (adolescents).
  • Complains of soreness or moves uncomfortably.
  • Wears clothing inappropriate to weather, to cover body.
  • Lack of impulse control (e.g. inappropriate outbursts).

Sexual Abuse - Physical indicators 

  • Pain or itching in genital area.
  • Bruises or bleeding in genital area.
  • Sexually transmitted disease.
  • Frequent urinary or yeast infections.
  • Extreme or sudden weight change.
  • Pregnancy under 12 years of age.

Sexual Abuse - Behavioral Indicators 

  • Withdrawal, chronic depression.
  • Sexual behaviors or references that are unusual for the child's age.
  • Seductive or promiscuous behavior.
  • Poor self-esteem, self-devaluation, lack of confidence.
  • Suicide attempts (especially adolescents).
  • Hysteria, lack of emotional control. 


The Process

Reports of suspected child abuse or neglect will either be:

  • Assigned for investigation, rejected; or transferred to another agency for investigation, such as law enforcement or the Bureau of Child and Adult Licensing.

Reports must meet the following three criteria to be assigned for investigation:

  • The alleged victim is under 18 years of age.
  • The alleged perpetrator is a parent, legal guardian or other person responsible for the child's health and welfare.
  • The allegations minimally meet the child abuse and neglect definitions in the Child Protection Law.

This information was provided by the michigan.gov website. Please visit their site for more information. 


Hillsdale CASA, Inc

59 N. Broad St. Hillsdale

5174254145

Copyright © 2025 Hillsdale CASA, Inc - All Rights Reserved.

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