As Economy Sinks, Law Enforcement Warns Child Abuse, Neglect On The Rise
Mar 26th 2009
CONTACT: Laura Wells, State Director
Cell: (425) 444-0285
lwells@fightcrime.org
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Klickitat County Sheriff Rick McComas and Burien Police Chief Scott Kimerer held a news conference today to raise concerns about rising cases of child abuse and neglect stemming from the flagging economy. Sheriff McComas and Chief Kimerer were joined by Dr. Beth Harvey, an Olympia pediatrician and President-elect of the Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and Mary Ann Murphy, Executive Director of Spokane’s Partners with Families and Children.
They released a research report from the crime-prevention group FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS Washington. State Rep. Ruth Kagi and State Sen. Claudia Kauffman also attended the event. The speakers all expressed concern that stress and anxiety in families caused by the economic recession has led or will lead to increased cases of child abuse and neglect.
In addition to putting children at risk, increased cases of child abuse and neglect would also lead to increased crime in the future. While most children who experience maltreatment lead normal lives, survivors of abuse and neglect are significantly more likely to commit crimes as adults. One study also found that children who are abused or neglected are thirteen times more likely to do the same to their own kids.
The law enforcement leaders said voluntary home visits to at-risk families would prevent many cases of abuse and neglect from ever occurring.
“This is a tough time for everyone, and we are concerned that it’s especially hard on kids in high-risk families,” McComas said. “We need to take action to prevent abuse and neglect to keep kids out of harm’s way.”
Recent reports show that those numbers may be getting worse. Dr. Harvey reported that Children’s Hospital and Harborview Medical Center in Seattle treated 35 cases of serious head trauma to children in 2008, compared to 9 cases in 2007. Spokane’s Sacred Heart reported a similar trend–40 non-accidental trauma cases in 2008 compared to 22 cases in 2007. Both institutions consider these to be underestimates.
In Tacoma, Mary Bridge Hospital’s Child Protection Team notes a doubling of clinic visits for child abuse victims from 2007 to 2008 and the Thurston/Mason Child Protective Services office has seen a significantly greater number of victims of severe physical abuse in the first quarter of 2009 than in the previous year.
Officials at Children’s said the hospital is on track to exceed the 2008 head trauma number in 2009. With more families falling into poverty, growing unemployment and home foreclosure rates, more children may be at risk since poverty is one of the most consistent risk factors for abuse and neglect.
"As a pediatrician, I know that the stress of financial hardship can take a toll on parenting. As a result, an innocent child can end up a victim of child abuse. We need to invest in prevention so that more children don't end up hospitalized with non-accidental trauma."
The voluntary home visiting programs send nurses and other trained professionals to help pregnant mothers and new parents learn about their child’s health and developmental needs.
Washington currently has a number of highly-effective home visiting services, such as the Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP). A randomized study of NFP participants found that the program cut cases of abuse and neglect by half among high-risk families who participated. Children whose families received the visits were also 60 percent less likely to be arrested by the time the child reached age 15, compared to those in families who did not participate.
“The criminal justice system and the children who are victimized by abuse or neglect can no longer wait until law enforcement and the courts get involved in these cases. By then it may be too late,” Kimerer said. “Home visiting programs are a proven solution to prevent abuse and neglect early on.”
However, the Governor’s proposed 2009-2011 budget eliminated funding for evidence-based home visiting programs. The law enforcement officials urged the Washington State Legislature to restore funding for evidence-based home visiting programs in the budget, considering that cases of child endangerment are on the rise.
Efforts are also underway at the federal level to expand support for home visiting programs. The new administration has proposed a new funding stream for voluntary home visits to promote early childhood development.
Washington Sen. Patty Murray has co-sponsored the bipartisan Education Begins at Home Act (EBAH), which would provide funding for home visiting programs proven to cut abuse, neglect and later crime. The law enforcement leaders called on Washington’s Congressional delegation to support legislation to fund the budget proposal.
The full report may be downloaded at www.fightcrime.org/wa
###
