Cornelius Police Chief Urges Action On Child Abuse, Neglect

CONTACT:
Martha Brooks, 
503-577-4715
mbrooks@fightcrime.org

CORNELIUS, Ore. — Chief Paul Rubenstein of the Cornelius Police Department held a news conference today to call attention to the problem of child abuse and neglect and cost-effective solutions proven to prevent it. He helped released a report showing that voluntary home visits can significantly reduce cases of abuse and neglect and cut crime in the long run. 



In 2007, over 10,700 children were confirmed victims of abuse and neglect in Oregon. The Portland metro area law enforcement leaders know child abuse and neglect contributes to future crime. While most children who grow up in abusive settings go on to lead normal lives, those who survive abuse and neglect are significantly more likely to commit crimes and act violently, even at an early age. One study found that survivors of abuse and neglect were also thirteen times more likely to abuse their own children. 



“Prevention goes a long way in my book,” said Chief Rubenstein. “We can save ourselves both resources and money by supporting the families at the greatest risk early on and most important of all, we can keep kids safe.” 



Voluntary home-visiting programs send trained professionals to help at-risk families learn about the health, nutritional and developmental needs of infants and young children. High-risk families served by Oregon’s Healthy Start are less than a third as likely to be involved in abuse or neglect as typical families in the state. 



A study of the Nurse-Family Partnership, a voluntary home-visiting program that sends registered nurses to work with new parents and expectant mothers, found that it cut cases of abuse and neglect by half among at-risk families who participated. The visits also reduced later arrests of children and mothers by 60 percent. 



Rubenstein went on to explain that violence and abuse are closely related. Steps need to be taken early in order to prevent this cycle from ever starting so that our children have a foundation for a successful life and never suffer the pain and terror of abuse.

Despite the evidence that voluntary home-visiting prevents abuse and neglect, the programs reach only a fraction of families who could benefit from the services. Because of a lack of funding, Healthy Start providers have to turn away many families who are eligible for services, putting more children at risk for maltreatment. 
With looming budget cuts, Oregon’s home-visitation program, Healthy Start could be cut by 30-40 percent, leaving more families without important prevention services. 


“Oregon law enforcement leaders support home-visiting,” Rubenstein said. “We need Oregon’s lawmakers to make home-visitation programs a priority to prevent abuse and neglect and keep kids out of the criminal justice system later on.” 



Analysis by the RAND Corporation found that the Nurse-Family Partnership cut cases of crime, welfare and other costs so effectively that it saved the public $3 for every dollar invested. 



Speaking on behalf of the law enforcement leaders of FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS, Rubenstein urged state lawmakers to invest in home-visiting programs as a cost-effective preventative measure against the cycle of crime, violence and abuse affecting Oregon’s communities. 



###

Full Report Available At: http://www.fightcrime.org/reports/ORCAN.pdf