MYTH 1: Children are rarely abused.
 

FACT 1: Children are the most vulnerable section of our society because of their dependence on elders. Statistics show that approximately 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 8 boys experience sexual abuse in some way before they are 18 years old. The National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) reported an estimated 1,400 child fatalities due to abuse in 2002. Local statistics from FRS show that between July 1, 2003, and June 30, 2004, we served 160 children.

MYTH 2: Abuse is most often committed by strangers.
 

FACT 2: According to our statistics, the majority of children that are abused (80 to 90 percent) are abused by someone they trust: relatives, teachers, policemen, scout leaders, etc. In a predominate number of cases, abusers have the trust of children and their families, and they have access to the child and the child's home.

MYTH 3: If you report suspected abuse you may be sued if it is false.
 

FACT 3: A person making a report in good faith is immune from both civil and criminal liability. In fact, if you knew about child abuse and failed to report it, you could be held legally accountable at that point since we are all mandatory reporters. Basically, you could get into more trouble if you do not report it.

MYTH 4: Reporting of abuse can cause more harm than good, and if a family is reported, the children are automatically removed from the home.
 

FACT 4: If child abuse is not reported, then the same abuser may harm other children or target the same child again. The media has reported cases where an abuser was not brought to justice and later targeted another child. Children are removed from a home only if there are conditions that threaten their lives, their safety, or their health. It is up to CPS and L.E. to determine whether a child needs to be removed from the home or not. How would you feel if you did not report and the child was seriously hurt or killed?  It is your job to report; it is the job of CPS and L.E. to investigate.

MYTH 5: If I don’t believe the child’s story, I don’t have to report it.
 

FACT 5: Your job is not to assess credibility, it is to report. However, if you do not believe the child’s story, you should tell that to the CPS worker or police officer you contact. Reporting abuse doesn’t mean acting as an advocate for the prosecution; rather, you simply convey all information you possess to the CPS worker or police officer.