What do I do about a situation of abuse?

We are so sorry to hear that you are facing this difficult situation.

If you are currently in danger, please call 911 immediately. If you need to talk with someone about abuse you are suffering, know of, or suspect you may call a regional (classis) safe church volunteer from this list, or you may talk to our Safe Church staff. We will do all that we can, with God's help, to assist you and explore with you what next steps might be possible.

If the situation involves a child who is experiencing abuse please call the appropriate authorities. In the U.S. and Canada the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with professional crisis counselors who—through interpreters—provide assistance in over 170 languages. The hotline offers crisis intervention, information, and referrals to thousands of emergency, social service, and support resources. All calls are confidential. Call or text 1.800.4.A.CHILD (1.800.422.4453). Or, for additional information, click here in the USA or click here in Canada.

 If you're calling about how to respond to a situation in your church our Safe Church ministry has created a toolkit, Responding to Abuse: A Toolkit for Churches. It can be accessed online or in hard copy through Faith Alive.   

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