A new state Department of Human Services report says there were 44,359 child abuse reports to children and youth agencies in the state last year. That’s about six percent more cases than in 2015. Substantiated cases increased 7.5 percent, to 4,597.
There were 94 deaths of people age 18 or under investigated by children and youth or law enforcement agencies, 46 of which involved some form of child abuse. There were 36 child abuse deaths in 2015.
In Indiana County, there were 260 child abuse cases reported, 36 of which were substantiated. The number of substantiated cases was up 11 from the year before, and of them, there was one fatality and one near-fatality. Twenty-two of the 36 victims were female. Eight of the substantiated child abuse cases were repeat cases.
In addition to child abuse, the report contains a breakdown of general protective services on behalf of children. Almost $1.4 million was spent in Indiana County for child abuse investigations and general protective services assessments.
HERE IS THE LINK TO THE REPORT. THE INDIANA COUNTY FIGURES ARE ON PAGE 64:
http://keepkidssafe.pa.gov/cs/groups/webcontent/documents/report/c_260865.pdf
