Keywords
child abuse
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Abstract
This publication discusses child abuse laws and procedures for reporting abuse. It also contains information about different types of abuse and ways to identify abused or neglected children. Characteristics listed in this publication are general and intended as guidelines. Written by Andrew E. Toelle and Kate Fogarty, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, revised June 2025.
Accessibility Summary:
In accordance with Title II regulations this content meets all points of exemption as Archived web content and/or Preexisting conventional electronic documents.
References
Business Wire. (2012, April 27). Governor Scott signs into law nation's toughest abuse reporting bill. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120427006023/en/Gov.-Scott-Signs-Law-Nation's-Toughest-Abuse
Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2019). What is child abuse and neglect? Recognizing the signs and symptoms. Factsheet (Hojas Informativas disponible in Español con el títolo: ¿Qué es el abuso y la negligencia de menores? Reconociendo los indicios y los síntomas). https://www.childwelfare.gov/resources/what-child-abuse-and-neglect-recognizing-signs-and-symptoms/
Child Welfare League of America (CWLA). (2024). Florida’s children. https://www.cwla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Florida-2024.pdf
Florida Department of Children and Families (2020). FFY Annual Progress and Services Report. Accessed January 2023. https://www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/child-welfare/kids/publications/docs/apsr/APSR2020.pdf
Florida Department of Children and Families. (2024a). Child protection programs in Florida. https://www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/childrens-health/cms-specialty-programs/Child-Protection/index.html
Florida Department of Children and Families. (2024b). What you need to report child abuse. https://www.myflfamilies.com/services/abuse/abuse-hotline/how-report-abuse/what-you-need
The Florida Legislature. (2024). Mandatory reports of child abuse and neglect, FL Code §§ 39.201-39. http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0039/Sections/0039.201.html
Putnam, F. W., Amaya-Jackson, L., Putnam, K. T., & Briggs, E. C. (2020). Synergistic adversities and behavioral problems in traumatized children and adolescents. Child Abuse & Neglect, 106, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104492
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (USDHHS). (2019). Child Maltreatment: 2019. Accessed December 2024 from https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/child-maltreatment-2019.
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