MONTGOMERY COUNTY — Today is wear-blue day statewide, and Montgomery County is reminding everyone to be on alert for warning signs surrounding child abuse and neglect.
On the second Wednesday of every April, Ohioans are asked to wear blue to work, school, and community events to show support, according to Montgomery County officials.
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April is Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month, and the Children Services Division (CSD) released data from 2022 showing nearly 4.200 investigations that were made that year.
Of the cases, there were 2,261 cases of physical abuse and 1,801 cases of neglect.
“Research has repeatedly shown that the effects of child abuse and neglect are lifelong and increase the risk of death, physiological changes in the brain, academic difficulties, criminal behavior, and mental health problems,” said Commission President Debbie Lieberman. “It’s up to all of us to ensure our youngest and most vulnerable residents are safe. If a child trusts you enough to tell you something’s not right, please believe them and please call for help.”
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The following chart shows CSD data since 2019:
| Investigations | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 4,199 | 4,701 | 4,595 | 4,417 |
| Physical Abuse | 2,261 | 2,517 | 2,268 | 2,033 |
| Sexual Abuse | 322 | 397 | 423 | 399 |
| Emotional Abuse | 228 | 334 | 359 | 346 |
| Neglect | 1,801 | 1,914 | 2,008 | 1,894 |
| Medical Neglect | 85 | 92 | 94 | 109 |
“Child abuse and neglect are heartbreaking, but we know caring adults can make a difference and help children recover without lifelong effects,” said Commissioner Carolyn Rice. “We’re stronger when we work together. Our continued collaboration helps our children have the support they need to lead safe, healthy, and prosperous lives.”
Montgomery County’s 24-hour hotline for reporting concerns is 937-224-KIDS (937-224-5437), which allows anonymous and confidential calls.
In case of immediate danger to a child, dial 911, and to know more about reporting, follow this link.