Guardian is not a hotline and cannot take reports. The services below are run by trained people and are free to contact. Every number on this page was checked against the service's official website in October 2026.

You do not need proof to reach out. You only need a concern.

If a child is in immediate danger

Call 911.

Call 911 if a child is being hurt right now, is in danger of being hurt, has a serious injury, or is missing.

If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected

Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline

• Call or text 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-CHILD).
• Staffed by crisis counselors 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Interpreters are available in more than 170 languages.
• Confidential. Offers crisis help, information, and referrals.
• Serves the United States and Canada.
• Website: https://www.childhelphotline.org/

How to make a report to child protective services

Each state runs its own child protective services (CPS) agency and its own reporting line. To find the number for your state:

1. Go to the Child Welfare Information Gateway page "How to Report Child Abuse and Neglect": https://www.childwelfare.gov/how-report-child-abuse-and-neglect/
2. Find the list of State Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Numbers on that page and choose your state.
3. Call or use the reporting method your state lists. If you are not sure who to call, Childhelp (above) can help you find the right place.

Things worth knowing, from the Child Welfare Information Gateway:

• Any concerned person can report. You do not have to be a professional.
• A report is not an accusation. It is a request for trained people to look into the situation and decide whether a child or family needs help.
• Some people are required by law to report. These are called mandatory reporters. Teachers and doctors are common examples, and some states require every adult to report. If you work with children, check your state's rules.
• The Child Welfare Information Gateway itself is not a hotline and cannot accept reports.

If a child is being exploited online

NCMEC CyberTipline (National Center for Missing & Exploited Children)

• Report online: https://report.cybertip.org
• Call 1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Use it to report online enticement of a child, child sexual abuse material, child sex trafficking, sexual images sent to a child, and related crimes. NCMEC shares reports with law enforcement.

Take It Down (also from NCMEC)

• Website: https://takeitdown.ncmec.org/
• A free service that helps remove or stop the online sharing of nude or sexual images or videos taken of someone before they turned 18.
• The image or video stays on your device. Only a digital fingerprint (called a hash) is sent, and participating platforms use it to find and remove matching content.
• You can stay anonymous.

Important: Take It Down asks people not to send or download an image just to submit it, and not to post it anywhere. When you report to the CyberTipline, describe what you saw and where you saw it (for example, the app, the account name, or the web address), and let NCMEC and law enforcement handle the content.

If you suspect human trafficking

National Human Trafficking Hotline

• Call 1-888-373-7888 (TTY: 711).
• Text 233733.
• Online chat is available through the website.
• Confidential, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. English and Spanish.
• Website: https://humantraffickinghotline.org/

If someone has been sexually assaulted or abused

RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline

• Call 1-800-656-4673 (1-800-656-HOPE).
• Text HOPE to 64673.
• Chat online at https://hotline.rainn.org/
• Free and confidential, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Support in Spanish is available.
• Website: https://rainn.org/

If you or someone you know is in emotional crisis

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

• Call or text 988.
• Chat online at https://chat.988lifeline.org/
• Free and confidential, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Text and chat are available in Spanish.
• You can reach out for yourself or for someone you are worried about.
• Website: https://988lifeline.org/

Crisis Text Line

• Text HOME to 741741. For Spanish, text HOLA to 741741.
• Free and confidential, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Website: https://www.crisistextline.org/

If you are a parent or caregiver who needs support

SAMHSA National Helpline

• Call 1-800-662-4357 (1-800-662-HELP).
• Free, confidential treatment referral and information for mental health and substance use, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. English and Spanish.
• Website: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/helplines/national-helpline

National Parent Helpline

• Call 1-855-427-2736 (1-855-4A-PARENT).
• Emotional support for parents and caregivers. Operated by Parents Anonymous Inc.
• Hours: Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM Pacific Time.
• Website: https://www.nationalparenthelpline.org/

Stop It Now Helpline

• Call 1-888-773-8368 (1-888-PREVENT), or use the chat or email form on the website.
• Free and confidential help for anyone concerned about child sexual abuse, including worries about someone else's behavior toward a child.
• Hours vary by day and are listed on the website.
• Website: https://www.stopitnow.org/get-immediate-help

What to have ready when you call

You do not need all of this. Share what you know.

• The child's name, age, and where they are now, if you know.
• What you saw or heard, in your own words, and when.
• Who you are worried about, if you know.
• Any immediate danger.

It is okay to say, "I'm not sure, but I'm worried." That is exactly what these lines are for.

Outside the United States

The services on this page are for the United States (Childhelp also serves Canada). If you are somewhere else, call your local emergency number.

Sources

• Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline, https://www.childhelphotline.org/. Checked October 2026.
• Child Welfare Information Gateway, Children's Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, "How to Report Child Abuse and Neglect," https://www.childwelfare.gov/how-report-child-abuse-and-neglect/. Checked October 2026.
• Child Welfare Information Gateway, "What Is Child Abuse and Neglect? Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms," factsheet, April 2019, https://www.childwelfare.gov/resources/what-child-abuse-and-neglect-recognizing-signs-and-symptoms/ (section "Recognizing Signs of Abuse and Neglect and When to Report"). Checked October 2026.
• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, "CyberTipline," https://www.missingkids.org/gethelpnow/cybertipline and https://report.cybertip.org. Checked October 2026.
• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, "Take It Down," https://takeitdown.ncmec.org/. Checked October 2026.
• National Human Trafficking Hotline, https://humantraffickinghotline.org/. Checked October 2026.
• RAINN, "Get Help," https://rainn.org/help/. Checked October 2026.
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, https://988lifeline.org/. Checked October 2026.
• Crisis Text Line, https://www.crisistextline.org/. Checked October 2026.
• SAMHSA National Helpline, https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/helplines/national-helpline. Checked October 2026.
• National Parent Helpline, Parents Anonymous Inc., https://www.nationalparenthelpline.org/. Checked October 2026.
• Stop It Now, "Get Immediate Help," https://www.stopitnow.org/get-immediate-help. Checked October 2026.