Madera Co. coping well with child abuse

Tiffany Tuell

(Updated: Thursday, November 12, 2009, 5:57 PM)

A recent review by the Madera County Grand Jury found there are 500,000 reports of child abuse every year in the state. In 2008, Madera County had 2,551 referrals, which resulted in 486 substantiated cases.

The report stated in its findings that child abuse is a chronic problem in Madera County but there are numerous resources that have partnered with County Welfare Services to address the problem.

The report found the Department of Social Services and County Welfare Services are providing quality services and that the staff are so dedicated they have even stayed overnight in the offices with a child in crisis.

"The DSS and CWS are providing quality services with other agencies and are actively promoting the safety and well being of our community by preserving and protecting the dignity of individuals and families. The staff is continually striving to improve service and increase efficiency," the report stated.

To deal with issues of neglect and abuse, Child Welfare Services offers different options for families with cases of abuse:

Court family maintenance orders the family to participate in services offered by the Department of Social Services while the children are dependents of the court.

Family reunification works to get families back together by developing a case plan, assessing progress and arranging visitation from family.

Permanent placement finds a new, permanent home for abused children that are unable to return to their families.

Local Mountain Area community women of the La Sierra Guild along with 13 other guilds are doing their part to keep local children happy and healthy as well.

The La Sierra Guild is helping raise $4 million -- along with the other 13 guilds -- for The Guild's Child Abuse Prevention & Treatment Endowment at Children's Hospital Central California.

Leanne Kozub, registered nurse and child advocacy program coordinator at Children's Hospital, said the money is going to increase the ability to educate the community and allow expansion of services offered through the hospital.

Carol George, president of the La Sierra Guild, said, "With the economic situation the way it is, it (child abuse) is an epidemic. People are frustrated and they take it out on their kids. On any given day, three to five percent of hospitals' intake is abused or neglected children."

"In 2008 we had 18 fatalities related to abuse and neglect regionally (that died at Children's Hospital)," Kozub said. "Child abuse is related to stress in the family and not being able to cope with everything that's going on.

"People don't wake up in the morning saying they're going to abuse their child. They want to be good parents and don't want to harm their children, but lack the skills to not use physical aggression. Not knowing how to handle child rearing stressors and a lack of support are reasons for abuse."