Anyone, including an abused child, can report a case of maltreatment by calling the free 24-hour number found in the white pages of the phone book. Some states have a toll free hot line. Often the services given to the child victim are limited and other resources must be located. The educational system has a number of resources which help the child, including counseling and remediation. Consider referring the child to the Committee on Special Education.
Maltreated children are children with special needs.
If a child's needs exceed the school's resources, perhaps there are appropriate community services available. Try to build a network of support agencies and personnel so that the responsibility can be shared. Ensuring their safety is a prime concern. However, children are being bombarded with much information and educators must be sure that youngsters understand what this information means. Some children may be unnecessarily alarmed and others may be fearful to disclose maltreatment.