March 02–Children in Onslow County are getting healthier but child abuse increased over a five-year period, according to a recent report. Onslow County officials say that picture may not be entirely accurate, however.
Public health enrollment increased 24.1 percent from 2007 to 2012 and 60.4 percent of Medicaid enrolled children received preventative care in 2012, according to the Action for Children report.
The five year period also brought a 37.5 percent increase in children ages 0 to 3 being enrolled in intervention services and a 19.6 percent increase in children 1 to 2 being screened for elevated blood levels. There was also an increase in Medicaid-eligible children who use dental services.
Child abuse, however, has increased, according to the report.
In 2012, there were 3,374 investigations for abuse or neglect compared to 3,081 in 2007. Of those investigations, 521 were substantiated as victims of abuse or neglect in 2012 compared to 296 in 2007, according to the report.
According to Onslow County Department of Social Services, however, 2007 brought 1,960 accepted cases of child maltreatment with 37 resulting in abuse being discovered. Five years later, Onslow had 1,694 cases of child maltreatment with 37 finding abuse.
Director Heidi Baur said that reports not meeting criteria set by state statute may account for some of the variation.
The department becomes involved in cases that involve children under 18, a child found in Onslow County, the child’s caretaker and involve the legal definition of abuse, neglect and/or dependency.
Baur said the county has many resources available for families in need, including parenting education, free drop-in childcare and adolescent parenting support programs at PEERS Family Development Center. The Onslow County Partnership for Children is also an available resource with Head Start, Young Parents Connect and the Child Advocacy Center.
According to Baur, citizens who are concerned that a child may be maltreated can report the maltreatment by calling DSS at 910-989-0230.
According to Action for Children, the graduation rate is a key health indicator because education is associated with better earning potential and higher income which enables people to buy homes in safer neighborhoods, healthier foods, health insurance coverage and more timely medical care.
| By Amanda Hickey, The Daily News, Jacksonville, N.C. | |
| McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |