It is everyone's responsibility to report any suspected case of child sexual abuse.
For the victims, they need all the help they can get considering that most of them aren't even capable of reporting what just happened to them.
Every citizen of this nation must understand that reporting an abuse may actually save a child's life.
If you are residing in the United States, there are many helpful agencies, government or private, which can provide assistance and help for every victim of child sexual abuse.
In fact, majority of the States do have a law that requires its residents to report to proper authorities in the event of child abuse or neglect suspicion.
This mandate is based upon the concept that we are all responsible for the welfare and safety of our children.
Unlike before, it is so much easier these days to call and report because there are so many national resource centers that focus on the prevention and intervention of child sexual abuse and treatment and counseling for victims.
As soon as you suspect that a child has been or is currently being abused, the first thing you have to do is call the local Child Protective Services (CPS) office.
If there are visible marks or injuries to the child, you have to contact the police.
See to it that you do not put matters into your own hands.
CPS and law enforcement agencies are trained to deal with child sexual abuse situations.
Aside from that, you also have the opportunity to further help victims by calling other support groups or agencies that have different areas of expertise when it comes to helping children who have been sexually abused.
Every resource center can provide you with all kinds of information and assistance concerning issues on child abuse.
There are organizations that can help in providing temporary shelter and refuge for the victims, intervene in actual abuse cases, take care of other child welfare tasks like adoption, and those that provide treatment and counseling for victims.
Here is a brief list of these agencies and their corresponding contact information: National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) Charles B.
Wang International Children's Building 699 Prince Street Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: (703) 274-3900 Fax: (703) 274-2200 Toll-Free: (800)-843-5678 ACTION for Child Protection 4724 Park Road Unit C Charlotte, NC 28203 704-529-1080 American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC) University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration 969 East 60th Street Chicago, IL 60637 312-702-9419 National Center for the Prosecution of Child Abuse 1033 North Fairfax Street Suite 200 Alexandria, VA 22314 703-739-0321 Department of Health and Human Services 330 C Street, SW Washington, DC 20447 800-394-3366 National Children's Advocacy Center 106 Lincoln Street Huntsville, AL 35801 205-532-3460 Childhelp 6463 Independence Avenue Woodland Hills, CA 91367 800-422-4453 National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse and Family Violence 332 South Michigan Avenue Suite 1600 Chicago, IL 60604 312-663-3520 National Children's Advocacy Center (NCAC) Administrative Offices 210 Pratt Avenue Huntsville, Alabama 35801 Phone: (256) 533-5437 Fax: (256) 534-6883 Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) 2000 L Street, NW Suite 406 Washington, DC 20036 Phone: (202) 544-1034 Fax: (202) 544-3556 American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) 3615 Wisconsin Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20016 Phone: (202) 966-7300 Fax: (202) 966-2891