Frequently Asked Questions

Our office is located at 605 South 4th Street, Gadsden, AL 35901

Our phone number is 256-543-1319, or you can find more information here

You can reach our Community Outreach Advocate, Robyn Phillips, by email at robyn@barriecenter.org or by calling 256-543-1319. More information about donations can be found here. Information about volunteer opportunities can be found here.

Under Alabama law, it is “harm or threatened harm to a child’s health or welfare which can occur through non-accidental physical or mental injury; sexual abuse or attempted sexual abuse; sexual exploitation or attempted sexual exploitation.”

Physical Abuse
• Unexplained bruises, marks, or cuts
• Marks in the shape of an object
• Fear of adults
• Destructiveness towards self or others
• Poor social skills
• Aggression
• Defiance

Sexual Abuse
• Inappropriate displays of affection
• Inappropriate sexual knowledge
• Over-compliance
• Pain during urination
• Difficulty walking or sitting
• Frequent vomiting
• Wetting pants

Emotional Abuse
• Depression or withdrawal
• Lack of emotion
• Lack of interest
• Speech, sleep, or eating disorders
• Increased emotional needs

Neglect
• Clothing that’s dirty, torn, poorly fitting, or inappropriate for the weather
• Sleepiness
• Poor hygiene
• Untreated medical or dental problems

Remember to stay calm while the child is telling you about what happened - It is important to maintain a safe place for the child during their disclosure.

Listen and don't make assumptions - Listen more than you talk and avoid advice giving or problem solving. Don’t put words in your child’s mouth or assume you know what he/she means or are going to say. Let your child use language they are comfortable with. Let your child set the pace, and don’t rush them.

Tell the child that you believe them - A lot of children will not tell anyone they are being abused because they have been told by the abuser that no one will believe them. If a child is telling you, it means they trust you and are asking you, as a safe person, to help.

Tell the child that the abuse is not their fault - Children often feel a significant amount of guilt and shame about what has happened, and they need to know child abuse is never the child’s fault.

Tell the child that they did the right thing by telling you about what happened - Acknowledge their courage in speaking out.

Do not ask questions in an attempt to gather further information about the abuse. Asking a lot of questions, especially leading questions, could confuse the child or potentially cause them to shut down. This could also negatively affect the case investigation in the future.

Do not have the child repeat their disclosure to others- It is important to limit the amount of people the child has to talk to about the abuse. Having them retell their disclosure could have negative impacts on the child.

Most importantly, REPORT the abuse to DHR and/or law enforcement.

A child abuse/neglect report can be made by contacting the Etowah County Department of Human Resources during the hours of 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday-Friday at (256) 622-8300.

When calling, tell the operator that you would like to make a report of child abuse/neglect and they will connect you to the intake worker.

If you need to make an after-hours report to DHR, contact the Etowah County Sheriff’s Department at (256)546-2825 or your local police department via the 9-1-1 operator.

For Mandatory Reporters- Once you have made a verbal report to DHR, submit a written report containing the information that you have reported. The Written Report of Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect form (DHR-FCS-1593) can be found at the Etowah County DHR office or on their website www.dhr.alabama.gov

“According to Alabama Law, any person who knows or has reasonable cause to believe or suspect that a child has been abused or neglected shall be required to report orally, either by telephone or direct communication, immediately followed by a written report, to DHR, law enforcement, or the District Attorney.”

Employees of hospitals and clinics
Doctors/Physicians/Surgeons
Nurses
Medical Examiners/Coroners
Dentists/Osteopaths/Optometrists
Chiropractors/Podiatrists
Physical Therapists
Pharmacists
Public and Private K-12 Employees
School Teachers and Administrators
Law Enforcement Officers
Social Workers
Mental Health Professionals
Childcare Workers
Employees of public and private institutions of postsecondary and higher education
Members of the clergy as defined in Rule 505 of the Alabama rules of evidence
Any other person called upon to render aid or medical assistance to any child when such child is known or suspected to be abused to neglected