SI cover features area model
Winter weather photos
Madison vs. Waynesville
Child abuse numbers give mixed picture
Officials say abuse investigations dropped in '08 but number of severe injuries were up.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Christina Cotrone, 8, of Centerville plays with the Pinwheels for Prevention float Tuesday, March 31, at the kickoff for Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month at the Kettering Government Center. The girl's parents, Steve and Linda Cotrone, created the float with the help of other members of Christ United Methodist Church to be a reminder of the work needed to prevent child abuse. Staff photo by Jan UnderwoodThe number of Montgomery County child abuse investigations in 2008 dropped from the previous year, the county Children Services agency said Tuesday, March 31.
However, more children are showing up with severe abuse that requires police intervention — broken bones, blunt force trauma, even death, as if parents and caregivers are losing control of their emotions and taking it out on children in their care.
That's the opinion of front line Children Services investigators, said Mary Anne Nelson, intake manager.
Instead of spankings, children are ending up with major injuries. Nelson thinks that the bad economy and the stress it puts on families, are to blame.
"It's a big part of it," she told reporters at the Kettering Government Center.
The county had 981 cases of physical abuse in 2008 and 397 sexual abuse cases.
But in November and December 2008, the county handled about 40 severe physical and sexual abuse cases per month. These are cases that are referred to Care House, the local child advocacy center that partners with law enforcement and medical personnel. Earlier that year, there were about 10 to 15 of those per month.
Overall, Children Services opened 4,253 new abuse investigations in 2008 compared to 4,457 in 2007 and 4,044 in 2006.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and the pinwheel will be the symbol used to represent the effort to increase awareness, Montgomery County Commissioner Judy Dodge said.
"The latest numbers, when compared to 2007 and 2006, indicate Montgomery County is holding the line when it comes to new child abuse investigations," said her colleague, Commissioner Dan Foley.
"Of greater concern is that very young children, especially infants, continue to endure severe injuries like blunt force trauma and broken bones along with not receiving basic care when it comes to their medical and educational needs."
To report abuse and neglect, call Children Services at (937) 224-5437.
