Frequently Asked Questions

Call the Children's Services agency in the county in which the custodial parent resides. You should provide them with as much information as you have available- including names, ages, and the address of the family, as well as your concern. It is not necessary to have all of the information to make a referral. You may also choose to call the police jurisdiction where the incident took place and provide them with as much information as possible. If you feel a child is at imminent risk of serious physical harm (the incident is taking place now) then you should call 911. Learn more about How to Spot and Report Abuse.

The Bar Association in your area likely has a lawyer referral service. In Columbus, the Bar Association referral service is at (614) 221-0754. You may also qualify to use the legal aid society at (614) 241-2001 or the Capital University Family Law Clinic at (614) 236-6779 or (614) 236-6245. If you feel the court is not listening to the particular needs/wants of your child you may want to communicate with your attorney as to whether or not a guardian ad litem (an attorney to represent the interests of your child) would be appropriate. If you have concerns relating to physical or sexual abuse of your child you should contact the child protection agency in your county.

If you have insurance you may want to contact your insurance agency to find out what services are covered and where they can be accessed. For counseling information, Nationwide Children's Hospital has Behavioral Health Services at 355-8080. Nationwide Children’s also has the Family Support Program which specializes in trauma treatment services relating to abuse/domestic violence. Their number is 722-8212. For other sources in Columbus, please contact First Link at 211 or 211-2255.

Call the Children's Services agency in the county in which the custodial parent resides. They will be able to talk with you about your concern and whether or not it meets the legal requirement for further investigation. It is not your responsibility to determine if it is abuse or neglect. If you feel you have observed abuse or neglect, you should report it. Learn more about How to Spot and Report Abuse.

We encourage you to talk to your primary care provider/pediatrician. Physicians are trained in child development and should be able to assist you in recognizing areas of concern. You may also call the Child Assessment Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital at 722-3278 for further discussion.

Typically two concurrent cooperative investigations take place when abuse is reported. The child protection agency in the county where you reside is responsible for ensuring the safety of your child. The law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction where the incident took place is responsible for assessing the ability to pursue criminal charges. Most investigations are handled with the detective and children's services investigator working together. They may also decide that your child should be seen at the Child Assessment Center at Nationwide Children's Hospital.

Children's Services will talk to all family members and those individuals they feel are important to the investigation. They will likely have to see your home to ensure its safety. However, it is important for you to know that most children served by Children's Services will remain in their home throughout involvement. Children's Services investigations are typically completed in 30-45 days. They, along with your family, will then decide whether or not there is a need for continued involvement to assist your family.

Law Enforcement will also talk to those individuals they feel may have information relating to allegations. They will attempt to get any evidence there might be relating to the concern. The law enforcement investigation may take much longer then the Children's Services investigation. The detective needs to know that they have all of the information they feel can possibly be obtained before making a decision as to whether or not they recommend charges to the prosecutor. If charges are recommended, the prosecutor will make a determination as to how to proceed.

Caregivers occasionally have concerns regarding the appearance of their child's genitalia. Rarely does an abnormal appearance indicate a child has been sexually abused. If you have these concerns we encourage you to talk to your child's primary care physician. If you have specific concerns your child may have been abused you may call the Child Assessment Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital at 722-3278 for further discussion.

There are many different ways that children deal with a difficult experience. Your child’s reaction to being a victim of abuse is unique to him/her. Sometimes when children seem “fine,” they may still have questions or distressing thoughts about what occurred. Counseling can help to give you and your child some tools to deal with what has happened so you all can readjust to the routines of your life.

It is natural to wish that the abuse never happened. It is natural to want life to somehow go back to the way things were before you found out that your child was being abused. We do not know how much of what your child has experienced they will remember. What we do know is that we cannot erase the past or change what has already occurred. We believe it is important for your child to have the opportunity to process their experiences through play therapy, group therapy and/or traditional talk therapy. A therapist who has been trained to work with children on their abuse issues will never “force” a child to talk about what has happened. We know that addressing what has occurred in a therapy setting is many times the quickest path to wellness.

When abuse occurs (especially sexual abuse), there is often a lot of secrecy that surrounds the act. That same secrecy makes it hard for children to disclose their abuse and talk about it openly. That same secrecy increases the chances that children may hold on to thoughts and feelings about themselves that are not healthy. This can negatively impact their ability to function in some areas of their lives. Having your child in counseling is another way to communicate to them that they can talk about what has happened to them, and you will make sure they have the support they need to be healthy. Please remember a trained therapist, who has experience working with children who have been abused, will never “force” your child to do anything. A trained therapist will use specific tools and techniques to help your child in his/her healing process.

There are some counseling programs that are grant funded including the groups in the Family Support Program (FSP), and you may not have any out of pocket expenses for those services. You may also be eligible for Victims of Crime Compensation Funds if you can cover the expenses of counseling up front and afford the wait time to be reimbursed.

Every therapist is different, but many will have some flexibility in their schedules to try and accommodate you. One thing to consider as you look at your schedule and that of your child is the “investment” potential of counseling. We firmly believe that “investing” time in counseling now can help to address the current symptoms your child may be dealing with as a victim of abuse, and help him/her improve their ability to deal with other difficult situations that may occur later in life. Many times, because abuse does not leave lasting physical scars, people are tempted to think, including the children themselves, that no further treatment is needed. If your child had suffered a physical injury and he/she had physical therapy appointments for several weeks after that, most parents would find a way to accommodate this treatment need. Likewise, it is important to help to make sure your child is mentally and emotionally healing from what has happened to him/her. A trained therapist can be invaluable in this process, but only with your support and active participation in your child’s treatment. Often the counselor is able to estimate how long the treatment might last and it is always all right to ask.

You are right, you are the expert on your child, and you know your child better than we ever could in our professional role. It is not a therapist’s job to take over any of your responsibilities as a parent. We know that sometimes, when parents have been blindsided by their child’s abuse, it can help the whole family heal from this experience in a healthier manner if someone outside of the situation is there to offer professional support and expertise. Children who have been abused have all of the same needs that you have been trying to meet thus far: needs for affection and love; basic needs for food, clothing, shelter, access to medical care; need for structure/routines and discipline in their life; need to play and socialize with children their own age; etc. Now that you are aware the abuse has happened, your child may have a few additional needs. Therapy offers an added safety net for your child and family to help ensure that you all will recover and eventually have the tools to thrive after this experience. We know that the most important person in your child’s life at this time is you. Your belief in your child, willingness to protect them, and love for them is irreplaceable. Counseling is meant to just enhance what you are all ready seeking to provide to your child.

Counseling is not a “quick fix” or a “magic pill.”  Counseling for sexual abuse and/or physical abuse is meant to address the issues that brought you into a place like the Child Assessment Center (CAC), and help your child and your family heal from that experience. The counseling that is being recommended to address the issues related to the sexual abuse and/or physical abuse of your child is a different type of counseling than what your child has had in the past to address their general behavioral concerns. Your child may need continued therapeutic interventions to address other mental health and/or behavioral issues. It will be important to discuss this concern with the treatment team that is providing the counseling for the sexual abuse and/or physical abuse.

Other parents have struggled with believing their child’s disclosure of abuse. It may be especially difficult to believe your child when the person they are accusing is someone you have trusted. What we know is that the overwhelming majority of children do not lie about their victimization history. A counseling environment provides a safe place for you and your child to express what you think and feel without judgment. A skilled therapist, who has expertise addressing abuse issues, will help you to work through your concerns.