County child abuse numbers, efforts to combat problem both increase

June 01--Battling child abuse never ends.

John Bout, executive director of Children's Advocacy Center of Lawrence County Inc., and Lawrence County commissioner Dan Vogler are diligently working to ensure children are protected even as the number of child abuse incidents reported and verified cases of child abuse continue to rise.

"We never stop fighting for the safety and well-being of kids," Bout said. "We have the tough conversations and never allow the conversation to stop existing. We apply all of our energy, time, and resources to protecting children through the use of evidence-based and research-based approaches that decrease the possibility of unhealthy parent and child conflict."

In Lawrence County, both the number of child abuse allegations and substantiated cases climbed significantly in 2017, according to a report by the state Department of Human Services. The report documented 303 reports of child abuse, 27 of which were substantiated. In 2016, those numbers were 248 and 17, respectively. Consequently, the amount that the county spent on child abuse investigations and general protective services assignments skyrocketed from $554,435 in 2016 to $1.02 million in 2017.

The county saw one child abuse-related fatality in 2017, but no near-fatalities.

The county's rate of allegations of abuse per 1,000 children is 16.8. The rate of substantiated cases per 1,000 children is 1.5. That compares to statewide numbers of 17.6 and 1.8, respectively.

Bout said the rise in numbers is due to a "change in child protective services law" that "expanded the definition of abuse and required a greater degree of mandated reporting."

"Presumably, the opioid epidemic along with other socio-economic factors may be contributing to the increase," Bout said.

Vogler said increases in reports have increased the demand on the county's Children & Youth Services department, and the county has done everything the state has asked to ensure reports are handled in a timely manner.

"It is a sad fact, but we have seen increases on the demands of our staff at CYS," Vogler said. "The commonwealth has come in over the last decade and directed us to add staff, caseworkers in particular. We have done that."

Bout said Children's Advocacy Center provides a "comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach" for all child abuse investigations.

"The CAC provides a child-friendly environment research-based, developmentally sensitive, neutral, legally sound, forensic interviews for the alleged child victims," Bout said. "We coordinate the Multidisciplinary Team working closely with the system and community partners, including Lawrence County District Attorney's office, Lawrence County CYS, state and local law enforcement, Crisis Shelter, Lawrence County Juvenile Probation, and Human Service Center."

Bout said the organization also works with UPMC Jameson to "provide forensic medical evaluations" to children who have been alleged to have been abused.

"Our process is victim-centered providing quick responses to the needs of child victims,' Bout said. "The Lawrence County CAC model has been praised around the state for our professionalism, thoroughness, and timely responses.

"There are few counties in Pennsylvania, that like Lawrence, have a specialized forensically trained nurse available to attend forensic interviews. That is important because the dual involvement and professional collaboration provides the forensic medical team with a better, first-hand, understanding of the child and the allegations."

Vogler said the county also works with various social service organizations to help protect children.

"I think any situation where a child is abused is certainly taken very seriously by all the parties involved," Vogler said of CYS, law enforcement and the criminal justice system. "I believe we have a dedicated staff at CYS, and we have a good host of social service agencies in the community, such as Children's Advocacy Center.

"I think given the seriousness of these instances, here at the county level, the employees have done a tremendous job. It is not an easy job. They sometimes have to go into unhealthy, unsafe environments. It is a tough job."

Children's Advocacy Center, Bout said, also works to strengthen family and empower children.

"We offer prevention programs and services such as Early Head Start, Parents As Teachers, Nurse Family Partnership, Promoting Responsible Fatherhood, and Time Limited Family Reunification," Bout said. "Our prevention services work with families, single parents, grandparents, and caregivers to stop generational child abuse through healing, support, recovery, empowerment, and respect.

"As an agency, we work to improve the lives of children through awareness, skill building, and healthy parent involvement. Our agency looks to strengthen every aspect of the family unit."

baddleman@ncnewsonline.com

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