Child Abuse

Child abuse is defined by law as harm or threatened harm to a child's health and safety by a person responsible for the child's health and safety. This includes parents, guardian, foster parent, or a person 18 years of age or older with whom the child's parent cohabitates, or any other adult residing in the home of the child. State law requires every health care professional, teacher, and every OTHER person who has reason to believe that a child under 18 is being abused or neglected, or is in danger of being abused or neglected, MUST report the suspicion of abuse promptly to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.

The Statewide 24-hour Child Abuse Hotline is 1-800-522-3511.