April Is Child Abuse Prevention
Month
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Therefore, it is appropriate to take a look at the data and
see what it tells us about child abuse and neglect in
Washington County. Review of this data should be prefaced with
the understanding that it only reflects what has been
reported, not necessarily what has actually
occurred.
In 2005, Washington County, as shown in
the chart above, ranked 24th in the State of Maryland for the
rate of indicated child abuse and neglect investigations per
1000 children. It is important to note that these
investigations may have included more than one child. The
actual rate, which was 12.7 indicated investigations, means
that for every 1000 children in Washington County there were
approximately 13 child abuse and neglect investigations in
which there was irrefutable credible evidence found. The total
number of investigations in which there was irrefutable
credible evidence found was 406.
For information about child abuse and
neglect and ideas on how you can help prevent it, please visit
The
Family Tree, the Maryland affiliate of Prevent Child
Abuse America.
Washington County's Nineteenth Annual
Workshop on Child Abuse and Neglect a Success
The Washington County Community
Partnership for Children & Families (WCCP) partnered with
several other community partners for the successful
presentation of Washington County's Nineteenth Annual Workshop
on Child Abuse and Neglect. Stephanie Stone, WCCP Director,
served on the workshop planning committee.
Naomi Griffith, national speaker and
consultant on child welfare issues, was the keynote speaker.
Workshop topics included child abuse, child abuse prevention
and interventions, child placement, child brain injury, drugs
in our community, play therapy and Internet crimes against
children and youth.
The workshop, which took place at Bethel
Assembly of God in Hagerstown, was extremely well-attended
with over 400 regional community partners in
attendance.
Workshop Sponsors:
- Child-Care Administration
- The Mental Health Center of Western Maryland, Inc.
- Washington County Public Schools
- Washington County Department of Social
Services
- Washington County Health Department
- Washington County Hospital Association
- WCCP
- Washington County Community Action Council, Inc.
- Washington County Mental Health Authority, Inc.
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Washington County's School Readiness Data
Is Turning the Curve!
May Is Mental Health Month
