Neither organization or any other except ACS have the legal responsibility to investigate child abuse. These organizations named have no legal responsibility to respond. You can call the State Register and not leave your name. ACS, as clumsy as they may be. will investigate. They will ask the family to a conference and meet with family members including any individuals they want to bring to the conference as part of the investigation. They will provide services and help the family. In extreme cases of abuse, they will refer the case to court. Removal of children is the last resort and if the children or even one cannot or does not want to remain at home, a friend or relative will be asked first. Children are no longer lost to the system, ACS does not just remove children without oversight or court order.
they will try to help the family so that children are not abused physically. Verbal abuse is hard to prove and the family will need to accept services.
Ohel has a preventive service unit that is free and can help the family but the family must sign up for the service.
It is the right thing to do to try to intervene and help. Child abuse will scar children for life. Trauma from child abuse or witness even if it is hearing the abuse is detrimental to children.
Please do something even if it is calling the police during an attack or Albany at the Register. You can call without leaving your name and you will remain nameless, just act please. In the name of those children please act.