ABUSE: Any willful or threatened act or omission that results in any physical, mental, or sexual injury or harm that causes or is likely to cause the child's physical, mental, or emotional health to be significantly impaired.

NEGLECT: Any act or omission where a child is deprived of, or allowed to be deprived of, necessary supervision, food, clothing, shelter, or medical treatment, or a child is permitted to live in an environment when such deprivation or environment causes the child's physical, mental, or emotional health to be significantly impaired or to be in danger of being significantly impaired. The foregoing circumstances shall not be considered neglect if caused primarily by financial inability unless actual services for relief have been offered to and rejected by the caretaker responsible.

THREATENED HARM: A situation, circumstances or behavior which leads a prudent person to have reasonable cause to suspect abuse or neglect has occurred or may occur in the immediate future if no intervention is provided.

How to Make a Report: 

Everyone, including professionally mandated reporters, should call the Florida Abuse Hotline when they know or have reasonable cause to suspect that a child or a vulnerable adult has been abused, abandoned, neglected, or exploited.  The abuse hotline counselor will determine if the information provided by the caller meets legal requirements to accept a report for investigation. 

There are 4 ways to Make a Report: 

By Telephone: 1-800-96ABUSE (1-800-962-2873)

By Fax: 1-800-914-0004

By TDD: 1-800-453-5145

Web Reporting:  http://www.state.fl.us/cf_web