Years ago, I parked in a local high school parking lot to attend my son’s football game. There were many other people there as well. As I got out of my car, I saw a man loudly yelling at, screaming at and pacing around his teenage son for several minutes. It was a very disturbing scene. While no visible bruises were left from this incident, the emotional scars of that abuse may last a lifetime.

In this situation, the police were called to check on the well-being of the boy. But many people passed by without stepping in, although they saw and heard a child being greatly mistreated. Sometimes we simply don’t know what to do. Sometimes we are afraid to make things worse for the victim.

“If you see something, say something. If you feel something, report it. If you’re unsure, call anyway,” reads a recent post from Utah County Children’s Justice Center Facebook page. “A child’s safety is worth the call.”

This month is Child Abuse Awareness Month. Having a month dedicated to this important cause helps spread awareness and protect those who are the most vulnerable in our communities. This month and every month, we can all learn to recognize the signs of child abuse and know how to report concerns.

Some signs of abuse aren’t obvious. We often think of signs of abuse as bruises or other obvious injuries. But there are many kinds of abuse, including physical, verbal, neglect and sexual. Some warning signs are body complaints, expressions of fear, frequent absences from school, fear of going home, disruptive or age-inappropriate behavior and change in personal care, such as eating, sleeping or hygiene habits.

Sadly, most cases of child abuse go unreported. If you observe warning signs or have suspicions of child abuse, it is important to respond. All children deserve to be treated with respect and kindness and to feel safe. If you do have suspicions, the Children’s Justice Center recommends calling the Division of Child and Family Services at 1-855-323-DCFS.

“Utah law requires any person who has reason to believe that a child has been subjected to abuse, neglect, or dependency to immediately notify the nearest office of Child and Family Services, a peace officer, or a law enforcement agency. Abuse, neglect, or dependency of a child can be physical, emotional, or sexual,” it states at dcfs.utah.gov. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.

People may be hesitant to report a suspicion if they are not completely certain that abuse is happening. But it’s not up to us to decide if there is abuse. We can leave that to the professionals. What we can do is report what we have witnessed, been told or have reason to suspect.

Protective factors are those factors that help increase the well-being of children and families. Some protective factors against child abuse include nurturing and attachment to others; parents’ knowledge of positive parenting skills and child development; parental resilience; social connections to family members, friends and others in the community; supports for parents; and social and emotional competence in children.

We can all look out for those who may need our help to ensure that children are safe and nurtured and that families are supported. During this month and every month, we can resolve to treat children with respect and care, look out for signs of abuse and respond and refer if needed. See something, say something.