Understanding Child Abuse:
Exposure to physical abuse, sexual abuse, and child neglect harms children, placing them at high risk for lifelong problems with serious and chronic physical illness, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, substance abuse, and learning and memory problems.
Child abuse affects all of us.
Child abuse and neglect impacts not just the child, but the family, the community and society at large. In fact, child abuse is the core underlying factor to the many ongoing struggles of this community, such as dropout rates, homelessness, high incarceration, and health concerns. The financial burden on other public systems, including child welfare, social services, law enforcement, juvenile justice, and, in particular, education, is staggering.
The cost of child abuse is high.
The cumulative financial impact to the Del Norte community for the 76 verified child victims in 2018 is $15.1M. Though these costs are accrued over the course of the victim’s life, the community will continue to incur the same cost each year until we are able to reduce and ultimately end child abuse.
The cost to our community:
Here’s a breakdown of the $15.1M
Child Abuse in Del Norte County, 2019
Our data tells us that, overwhelmingly, neglect is our largest issue in Del Norte County. Children who are connected to the community are more likely to be protected from neglect.