Report Abuse

It's a crime to abuse a child, an older person, or an adult who depends on others for care.

1. Emergencies

• If the situation is life-threatening, call 911 right away.

2. Child abuse

The California Department of Social Services tracked 467,696 child abuse reports in 2006. Report abuse now.

• Call the Child Protective Services Hotline in your area.
• Click here to find where to report child abuse in your county.
• Check on the background of child care providers. TrustLine is the California registry of in-home childcare providers.

3. Elder and dependent adult abuse

110,000 reports of abuse were filed in California in a single year (July 2006 through June 2007). Report abuse now.

• Find out more about elder abuse
• Are you concerned, but you live in a different community? Then call the local police, sheriff, or social service agency in the person's home area. Someone in that area can conduct a well-being check or welfare check.

For adults at home: If the older person or the dependent adult lives in the community (not a care facility), you can:

• File a report at the California Department of Justice's Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse Complaint Site
• Call your county Adult Protective Services hotline
• Call the statewide toll-free Elder Abuse Reporting Hotline 1-888-436-3600

For adults in facilities: If the older person or the dependent adult lives in a nursing facility or a residential care facility, you can:

• Call the Long-Term Care Ombudsman CRISISline at 1-800-231-4024
• If you are concerned or have complaints about a person's care in a nursing facility, contact the California State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. Each licensed facility can be visited by an Ombudsman who can investigate and resolve complaints.
• Learn about the rights of residents of nursing facilities

4. Hotlines and Websites for Help to Address Abuse