Too Many Children Die in Indiana as a Result of Abuse and Neglect. We Can Do Better.

Some disturbing news about an increase in the rate of child abuse and neglect in Indiana underlines the need for action on a local level.

The Sobering Facts

In 2007, in Indiana alone, 53 children died as a result of child abuse and neglect, according to a report from the non-profit group Every Child Matters. Another 18,380 Indiana children were confirmed abused and/or neglected. The number of children abused and neglected in Indiana would fill over 34 elementary, middle, and high schools.

This is an increase from the 42 deaths reported in 2006. That’s more than a 20-percent increase. Startling, isn’t it?

Healthy Families

Community Alliance for Healthy Families is a local collaboration of organizations who have a common interest in ending child abuse and neglect. Services in Allen County are provided through a collaboration of four agencies: CANI (Community Action of Northeast Indiana), Lutheran Social Services, SCAN and Easter Seals ARC.

The program is designed to strengthen families by reducing child abuse, neglect and childhood health problems. The state of Indiana’s Department of Child Services cites research that consistently confirms that providing education and support services to parents around the time of a baby's birth, and continuing for months or years afterwards, significantly reduces the risk of child maltreatment and contributes to positive, healthy child rearing practices.

How You Can Help

Your support of such programs as Healthy Families can help put an end to child abuse and neglect.

Since the introduction of the program to Allen County in 1994, the number of cases of abuse and neglect has stabilized. And more than 99 percent of families in the program or shortly after are abuse-free.

Moreover, those concerned can write letters to your local representatives, urging their support of laws that protect children from abuse and neglect. Congress is going to reauthorize the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) in the next year or so, and is going to debate many items in the federal budget that deal with this issue. Federal funding for child welfare has decreased 8.9 percent since 2005 according to First Focus, a bipartisan advocacy organization dedicated to making children and families a priority in federal policy and budget decisions.