Child Neglect Cases Multiply As Economic Woes Spread
Posted on April 5, 2009, by admin, under News.
As the economic downturn takes its toll on struggling families, child welfare workers across the region are seeing a marked rise in child abuse and neglect cases, with increases of more than 20 percent in some suburban counties., for example, such cases jumped 152 percent, from 44 to 111, comparing July through October with the same four-month period in 2007.It’s very concerning and certainly is reflective of what’s happening in the economic environment, said Kathy Froyd, director of the Children, Youth and Families Division of the Fairfax County Department of Family Services., with smaller numbers, was up 38 percent., the Southeast mother accused early this year of killing her four daughters, had a large effect on hotline calls.The well-established nexus between poverty and child abuse is reason for many child experts to be concerned that the country might see more neglect and abuse as the recession deepens.History and experience tell us when the economy is bad and unemployment rises, children don’t do well, said Linda Spears, vice president of the Child Welfare League of America, a national collection of nonprofit groups that aid abused and neglected children.
There are so many unknowns, but I would venture to guess that we’re about to see one of the larger increases in child abuse cases since the drug epidemic increases in the 1990s.Agnes Leshner, director of child welfare services for Montgomery, said that although other economic downturns might have produced similar trends, social workers in Montgomery agree that they haven’t seen it quite as severe as now.
Puzzled, she called colleagues across the country, who told her that they, too, noticed an increase in child abuse cases.We are all questioning whether it’s the economy and the stresses that come with a bad economy, said Jackson, who is the medical director of the hospital’s Child and Adolescent Protection Center.That connection is more evident at the hotline centers, which get frazzled parents’ calls for help.On a recent night shift at the Prevent Child Abuse Virginia hotline call center, a woman called to say that she was pregnant and out of work and that her husband’s hours had just been cut.
No Comments
Greek Nov household credit growth slows to 14 pct
Posted on January 5, 2009, by admin, under News.
The government projects economic growth will slow to 2.7percent in 2009 from 3.2 percent this year but economists saythis is optimistic given the global economic downturn.
The central bank wants the pace of credit expansion to stayabove 10 percent next year, and the government plans a 28billion euro liquidity support package to ensure the economy isadequately funded.
Consumer credit expanded by 17.8 percent or 233 millionfrom 19.1 percent in Oct.
The Bank of Greece said credit to business expanded at anannual 22.2 percent clip in Nov or by 940 million euros, slowingfrom 24.1 percent in Oct.
No Comments
