Cases of child abuse, neglect increase here

Alleghany County Social Services Director Sandra Ashley says that the numbers rose significantly in terms of cases of child abuse and neglect cases investigated and substantiated in the county during 2003. In the 2003 calendar year, the department investigated a total of 148 cases of child abuse and neglect, of which a total of 38 were substantiated.

She said that this represents a substantial increase over the 2002 calendar year, during which a total of 77 such cases were investigated and 25 substantiated.

The numbers for last year also indicate that abuse and neglect reports were at a five-year high in 2003.

In contrast, from 2001 to 2002, the department had a decrease in the number of cases of child abuse that were investigated and substantiated. The total for 2001 was 116 cases investigated and 32 cases substantiated.

During the year 2000, the department investigated 128 cases, of which 33 were substantiated. The figures for 1999 were 105 cases investigated, with 42 of those being substantiated, and in 1998, 133 cases were investigated, of which 48 were substantiated. As for the 2003 calendar year's increase in the number of cases, Ashley attributed the increase, at least partially, to increased family violence.

"We are reporting an increase in child abuse and neglect, which is probably due to an increase in domestic violence," she said. "Economic conditions in the county are causing stress in families, and there is also a lot of drug and alcohol misuse. All of that contributes to these problems."

To deal with this problem, a new policy that Alleghany County's social services department has instituted has the potential to allow county services to reach a greater number of investigated cases.

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