The social issue of child abuse is a problem for an entire community. It is recognized as a problem of epidemic proportions. Every year the Department of Human Services Investigators conduct about 20,000 investigations involving about 30,000 children. However, national studies continue to show that only one-third of maltreated children are reported to child protection agencies.
Child abuse has serious and sometimes fatal consequences.
It is an on-going problem. Children that are abused today are more likely to turn into the abusers of tomorrow. There is help for children who suffer from abuse, and it can be provided without any regard to one s income. Some forms of help are parenting classes, foster care, and sexual abuse treatment. However, the help cannot be given if the abuse is not reported.