When a Child Discloses Sexual Abuse: A Michigan Guide for Parents

When a child tells a parent about sexual abuse, the State of Michigan's guidance is to respond calmly and supportively, not to pressure the child to talk or try to handle the situation yourself, and to reach out to the police or Children's Protective Services (CPS).^[1] Suspected child abuse can be reported at any time, day or night, by calling 855-444-3911.^[2]

If a child is in immediate danger, call 911. To report suspected child abuse or neglect in Michigan, call 855-444-3911 any time, day or night.^[2] For support for yourself, Michigan's VOICES4 hotline takes calls and texts at 855-864-2374 and is open to people supporting a survivor; the National Sexual Assault Hotline is 800.656.HOPE (4673).^[6][7][8]

This page explains who to call, why Michigan's system is built around an interview by a trained forensic interviewer, what CPS and police do after a report, and where a parent can find support. It describes the process; it is not a script, and it does not replace the advice of the professionals who will work with your family.

In the moment: what the State tells parents

The State's VOICES4 site has a page written for adults a child confides in. Its points are these:^[1]

• Respond in a calm manner. The State says a child will be better able to feel safe if the adult listens calmly and responds with care and compassion.^[1]
• Listen and support. Give the child your full attention, and let the child know you will do what you can to support them.^[1]
• Do not pressure the child to talk. The State's guidance is to avoid leading or suggestive questions and never to pressure a child who does not want to talk.^[1]
• Tell the child it is not their fault. The State notes that a child may need to hear this many times.^[1]
• Protect the child from future harm. Keep the child away from the person named, and reach out to the police or CPS instead of trying to handle the situation yourself.^[1]
• Remain hopeful, and care for yourself. The State describes children as very resilient, especially when they have a safe and loving relationship with a trusted adult.^[1]

The State's page does not ask the adult to find out what happened. It says to reach out to the police or CPS, who may then arrange a forensic interview, which is the subject of the next section.^[1]

Why a trained forensic interviewer talks with the child

Michigan has a written state Forensic Interviewing Protocol, now in its fifth edition.^[9] By statute, the prosecuting attorney and the Department of Health and Human Services in each county must adopt investigation and interview protocols modeled on the state publications, and CPS and law enforcement must conduct their investigations in compliance with them.^[10][11]

The protocol explains what a forensic interview is for and who conducts it:

• The goal. A forensic interview aims to obtain a statement from a child, in a developmentally sensitive and unbiased manner, to support accurate and fair decision-making in the criminal justice and child welfare systems.^[3]
• Training. The protocol says forensic interviews of children should be conducted by professionals who have completed forensic interview training provided by the state health department or its designee, and that familiarity with the protocol is not a substitute for that training.^[3]
• The child's own words. Interviewers are told to avoid suggesting events and details the child has not mentioned and to avoid projecting adult interpretations onto what the child describes.^[12]
• Open questions. The protocol ranks types of questions from most open to most suggestive and directs interviewers to favor the open end and avoid explicitly leading questions.^[13]
• Alternative explanations. Interviewers test other explanations for what a child has said, for example whether touching happened during routine caregiving.^[12]
• Fewer interviews. In a dedicated interview setting, the protocol describes one-on-one interviews as best practice, with the investigating parties observing from another space and able to communicate with the interviewer, "thus reducing the need for additional interviews of children."^[3]
• Not the child's therapist. The protocol says a forensic interview should not be conducted by a mental health professional who has seen or will see the child as a client.^[3]

The protocol does not say a child can never be interviewed again; it describes arrangements meant to reduce the need for it.^[3]

The protocol's instructions on questioning are written for trained interviewers.^[3][12] The State's guidance to a parent is simpler: listen, and never pressure a child who does not want to talk.^[1] The protocol also notes that individuals who could be accused of influencing a child to make allegations should not sit with the child during the interview.^[14] More about the protocol and how recorded interviews are handled is in Forensic interviews of children.

Who to call

Situation	Who to contact
A child is in immediate danger	911
You suspect a child has been abused	Michigan's reporting line, 855-444-3911, any time, day or night; reports can also be made online.[2]
You want to report to law enforcement	The State says child sexual abuse can be reported to the police.[1] Any person who has reasonable cause to suspect child abuse may report to the department or to a law enforcement agency.[15]
The conduct happened online	The CyberTipline of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children takes reports of online exploitation of children; its 24-hour hotline is 1-800-843-5678.[16]

The State says a report to CPS is either assigned for investigation, rejected, or transferred to another agency for investigation, such as law enforcement.^[17] The Child Protection Law gives the reporter two protections. Except for certain records available under another section of the act, the identity of a reporting person is confidential, subject to disclosure only with that person's consent or by judicial process.^[18] A person acting in good faith who makes a report is immune from civil or criminal liability that might otherwise be incurred by that action, and is presumed to have acted in good faith; the immunity does not extend to a negligent act that causes personal injury or death.^[18]

Some adults in a child's life have a legal duty to report. Teachers, school counselors, physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers and members of the clergy are among them, so a person in one of those roles who has reasonable cause to suspect abuse has a reporting duty of their own.^[19] See Mandated reporters in Michigan.

The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline offers support by call, text or chat to anyone concerned about child abuse, but it states that it is not a reporting line and is not connected to 911.^[20]

What happens after a report

1. The first 24 hours. Within 24 hours after receiving a report, the department must either refer it to the prosecuting attorney and local law enforcement, where the report meets listed conditions, or begin an investigation.^[21] When the department becomes aware that a child is the victim of suspected sexual abuse, it must seek the assistance of and cooperate with law enforcement within 24 hours.^[4]
2. Which agency leads. The State says CPS assigns a report for investigation when the alleged victim is under 18, the person named is a parent, legal guardian or other person responsible for the child's health and welfare, and the allegations minimally meet the Child Protection Law's definitions of child abuse and neglect.^[17] If the allegation indicates criminal sexual conduct, or the person named is not responsible for the child, such as a teacher, a member of the clergy or an adult in a youth program, the department must send the allegation and the results of any investigation to law enforcement in the county where the incident occurred.^[22]
3. The forensic interview. After a report, law enforcement or CPS may arrange a forensic interview of the child.^[1] The protocol says that, whenever possible and appropriate, interviews in investigations needing a coordinated team approach should take place at a children's advocacy center.^[23] The State supports video recording of these interviews as a best practice.^[24]
4. Medical evaluation. See the next section.
5. Review by the prosecutor. If a CPS case involves sexual abuse of a child, the department must refer it to the county prosecuting attorney, who reviews whether the investigation complied with the county protocol.^[25] Whether criminal charges are filed is the prosecutor's decision; see Who decides to charge a sex crime.

If CPS needs to see a child at school, the school must allow access without parental consent when the department determines it is necessary, and the department must then notify the person responsible for the child at the time or as soon afterward as that person can be reached.^[26] The department may delay that notice if it would compromise the safety of the child or the child's siblings or the integrity of the investigation, but only for as long as one of those conditions exists.^[26] The CPS process, including how an investigation ends, is explained in CPS investigations of sexual abuse.

A recorded forensic interview is tightly controlled. No individual, including the child's parent, may release or consent to the release of a videorecorded statement except as the statute provides.^[27]

Medical evaluation

The State says all victims of sexual assault have a right under Michigan law to have a sexual assault medical forensic examination and evidence kit collected up to five days after the assault or abuse.^[5] It also says that when abuse comes to light weeks or months later, "It is still very important to seek medical evaluation."^[5] According to the State, evaluation can involve a wellness check, testing and care for sexually transmitted infections, and forensic evidence collection if the abuse was recent.^[5]

Who provides the evaluation varies across Michigan. The State lists a local Child Advocacy Center, a specialized child abuse pediatrician, a sexual assault nurse examiner program, or a combination.^[5] If the person named is a parent, guardian or other person responsible for the child, CPS will be involved and may refer the child to specific doctors or providers.^[5] A parent can ask the investigating agency or the advocacy center where the child will be seen.

Nurse examiner programs verified for this library in West Michigan include the YWCA West Central Michigan Nurse Examiner Program in Grand Rapids, which says it serves all ages and does not charge patients, and YWCA Kalamazoo, which says its exams are done on site without age restriction and are free and confidential.^[28][29] The exam itself is described in The sexual assault forensic exam.

Children's advocacy centers in West Michigan

Michigan's Child Protection Law defines a children's advocacy center as an entity accredited as a child advocacy center by the National Children's Alliance, or one granted associate or developing membership status by it.^[30] The State describes these centers as child-friendly places where the forensic interview is conducted and which can provide or refer a family to counseling for the child.^[1]

The State describes the centers as coming in after a report has been made, so the first call is still to 855-444-3911 or the police.^[1][31] Each name and telephone number below was confirmed on the center's own website on 4 October 2026. The Berrien center's site, for example, says visits are by appointment only.^[32]

County	Center	Phone
Kent	Children's Advocacy Center of Kent County, 2855 Michigan St NE, Grand Rapids	616-336-5160[33]
Ottawa	Ed and Nancy Hanenburg Children's Advocacy Center, 12125 Union St., Holland	616-393-6123[31]
Allegan	Safe Harbor Children's Advocacy Center, 404 Sherman Street, Allegan	(269) 673-3791[34]
Barry	Safe Harbor Children's Advocacy Center, 1127 West State Street, Hastings	(269) 948-3617[34]
Van Buren	Safe Harbor Children's Advocacy Center, 57150 CR 681, Hartford	(269) 512-2854[34]
Muskegon	Child Abuse Council of Muskegon County, 1781 Peck Street, Muskegon	(231) 728-6410[35]
Kalamazoo	Bill Wright Children's Advocacy Center, Community Healing Centers, Kalamazoo	269-343-1651 (the number Community Healing Centers prints on its site and the state directory lists for the center)[36][37]
Ionia and Montcalm	IM SAFE Child Advocacy Center, 10260 S. Sheridan Rd., Fenwick	616-225-7267[38]
Newaygo	Evergreen Child Advocacy Center at The Center for Hope and Healing, 601 North Evergreen Drive, White Cloud	231-787-2922[39]
Berrien	Children's Advocacy Center of Southwest Michigan, 4938 Niles Road, St. Joseph	(269) 556-9640[32][40]

For other counties, the State directs families to the health department's service provider directory or to the state hotline to find a center or nurse examiner program.^[5]

Support for you as a parent

The State's page speaks to the parent directly: a protective parent or caregiver will have many feelings about what has happened, and it is important to have support from other caring people.^[1] It says many Children's Advocacy Centers and sexual assault services programs provide counseling for family and friends of survivors too.^[1]

• Someone to talk to now. Michigan's VOICES4 hotline has trained advocates available 24/7 and is for survivors, for anyone supporting a survivor, and for anyone seeking information about local services.^[6]
• Help with costs. Michigan's Crime Victim Compensation program may help pay out-of-pocket medical expenses, counseling and other expenses of people harmed as the direct result of a crime.^[41] A longer claim period can apply to certain offenses against a child; details are in Crime victim compensation.^[42]
• Time off work. Under the Earned Sick Time Act, an employee whose family member is a victim of sexual assault may use earned sick time for medical care or counseling, to obtain services from a victim services organization, or to take part in related court proceedings.^[43]
• Privacy. For a victim of criminal sexual conduct who was under 18 when the crime was committed, the child's name and address, the names and addresses of relatives with the same surname, and other identifying information are exempt from public-records requests.^[44]

Local programs for adults and families are listed in Where to get help after sexual assault in West Michigan.

If the case goes to court

A report does not always lead to criminal charges. If a case is charged, Michigan law has specific arrangements for young witnesses. In a prosecution for criminal sexual conduct in the first through fourth degree, the court must permit an alleged victim who is under 16 to have a support person sit with or near them while testifying.^[45][46] Those arrangements are covered in Child witnesses in Michigan courts, and the general process for any witness in What to expect as a witness.

What people get wrong

• "I need to find out exactly what happened before I call." The State's guidance is the opposite: do not pressure the child or try to handle it yourself, and report so that a forensic interview can be arranged.^[1]
• "The advocacy center is where you report." The State describes a report to police or CPS first, after which they may arrange an interview at a center.^[1]
• "CPS handles every report of child sexual abuse." The State says CPS assigns a report for investigation when the person named is a parent, guardian or other person responsible for the child, and the department must send allegations of criminal sexual conduct, and allegations against someone who is not responsible for the child, to law enforcement.^[17][22]
• "Too much time has passed for a doctor to help." The State says medical evaluation is still very important when weeks or months have passed.^[5]
• "If I report, the family will be told it was me." Except for certain records available under another section of the act, a reporting person's identity is confidential, subject to disclosure only with that person's consent or by judicial process.^[18]