Health and Family Services brings awareness to Child Abuse Prevention Month

BOWLING GREEN, KY. – April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and in Kentucky, we’re all mandatory reporters, Health and Family Services tells us that if you see something concerning then definitely make that call.

News 40 spoke to Eric Friedlander, the secretary for Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services who said that numbers have gone down but are still high. Friedlander said around 40,000 claims come in each year with about 8,000 being substantiated which is an improvement from years past. Where as Kentucky was once number one or close to it in child abuse cases, it’s now moved down to 14.

Many of the 8,000 children in foster care currently are there due to abuse in the home. The secretary said even if you see anything that makes you feel uncomfortable, to report it. He said even excessive yelling could be a sign of something wrong in the home. When asked if the meter on child abuse is moving at all, Friedlander said reports are stable but things are “more egregious” in terms of abuse.