Reports Of Child Abuse In Calaveras Increase Slightly

San Andreas, CA -- There were more reports of child abuse but less children involved in them over the last year in Calaveras County.

Child Welfare Services released new statistics just as the county is set to proclaim April Prevent Child Abuse month.

In 2004 there were 764 reports of child abuse involving 864 children. In 2005 there were 813 reports involving 847 children. That´s 49 more reports but with 17 less children involved.

Program Manager Mikey Habbestad said the reason for the increase in reports could be because of a caring community concerned about the abuse so they report it.

She also said the number of children living in the county has decreased, which could explain the drop in the number of kids affected.

Habbestad said since she started keeping stats in 2001, child abuse numbers have pretty much remained the same.

Most of the abuse reports came from the county´s more populated areas of Angels Camp, San Andreas and Valley Springs. Most had to do with neglect.

Written by Vanessa Turner.