Agency says 142 children abused or neglected in Putnam County last year

Thursday, April 3, 2008
Support service agencies gathered together on the southeast lawn of the Putnam County Courthouse to place 142 pinwheels in ground to represent the number of children in Putnam County who have suffered from abuse and neglect. Pictured placing pinwheels are Darla Procter, Health Families, Patti Harmless, Putnam County Youth Development Commission/CASA, Elizabeth Butts, Domestic Violence/Family Support, Cari Cox, Family Services and Eileen Johnson, Mental Health of Putnam County.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time when children's advocates across the country call for action to address abuse and neglect.

Representatives from several service agencies took time Tuesday afternoon to place pinwheels on the southeast lawn of the Putnam County Courthouse representing the 142 children who were neglected or abused in Putnam County last year.

Nationwide more than 84,000 children were reported as victims of child abuse and neglect.

This month is dedicated to drawing attention to the problem and preventing any child abuse or neglect from taking place.

According to Cari Cox, Family Support Services, abuse and neglect have both long and short-term consequences.

"These can include brain damage, developmental delays, learning disorders, aggressive behaviors, depression and create problems forming relationships," she said.

Survivors of child abuse and neglect may also be at greater risk for problems later in life.

Prevent Child Abuse Indiana released information that states 90 percent of incarcerated male felons have child abuse histories and 95 percent of arrested teen prostitutes have records of abuse, often sexual abuse, and 13 percent of all violence can be linked to earlier child abuse or neglect.

Healthy Families, Putnam County Family Support Services, Putnam County Youth Development Commission /CASA, Domestic Violence and Family support and the Mental health Service all work together to:

* Increase awareness of the problem and inform communities about solutions

*Serve as a valuable resource for families, individuals and organizations

*Advocate for expanded and improved programs and policies to prevent child abuse

*Foster a network committed to child abuse prevention

According to Cox, warning signs of abuse or neglect often include frequent or unexplained bruises or injuries, nervousness around adults, aggression toward adults or other children, an inability to stay awake or concentrate for extended periods, a sudden, dramatic change in activities or personality and acting out sexually.

You can report child abuse and neglect by calling 1-800-800-5556. Reports are confidential.

Putnam County planned activities for this month include:

* April 1, Putnam County Families Matters members put up a display on the courthouse lawn depicting the number of children who died last year from abuse.

*April 2, Mayor Sue Murray signed a proclamation supporting Child Abuse Prevention Month.

* April 14 to April 18 is Blue Ribbon Week, in which anyone can sport a blue ribbon reminding others to help protect children.

* April 22 a candlelight vigil will take place at Gobin Methodist Church at 5:30 p.m.

Elsewhere in the state:

* See the Indiana Statehouse Lawn planted with Blue Pinwheels representing the over 80,000 live births in Indiana last year!

*Thursday, April 3, 2008 from 4:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. visit the Indianapolis Children's Museum for the "Born Learning" Family Celebration. Admission is free for the entire family.

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  • Here is an idea... if they would actually do something when you call to report neglect in the begining, instead of waiting for something really bad to happen before they step in, they might not have 142 cases of child abuse per year. Watch the news..most of the children that die from child abuse have a history and CPS has been involved before. They keep letting them go back to the situation. When I called to report my exhusband, their exact words were..There is nothing we can do until a child actually gets sick from dog feces being on the floor. My child and I both reported that my ex drinks all day until he passes out and they said they could do nothing b/c he was over 10 and could care for himself if he needed something. They said that if a family is homeless and living in a car that as long as they have access to running water, like at a gas station, there is nothnig they can do. The state gives too many rights and too many chances to people in the wrong. Look how far they let non payment of child support go on! They threaten them with jail time if they miss one more payment and then they do and do they go to jail? No! They send them a warning and if you are lucky you go back to court and they threaten them again, and on the 5 thousand dollars they owe they make them pay 10 bucks a week in arrears??? Like 10 bucks a week makes up for the months and months they didn't pay! If someone had been holding the judges paychecks from her for 6 months, that she needed to support her child, she would demand more than 10 dollars a week to catch up what they owe her!!!! If they would so something about these things when they are very first a problem instead of "drawing attention" to child abuse one month a year, they could help more children.

    -- Posted by just-me08 on Thu, Apr 3, 2008, at 9:26 AM
  • Too bad nothing was done about child abuse in the 50's and 60's. Keep up the good work that is being done. Being a victim of child abuse I know first hand the damage it does for a survivor.I know folks knew and didnt talk about it or do anything about it.I feel Putnam County is doing all they can. Child support is a different issue that I feel Putnam County is working hard at also.

    -- Posted by peace2019 on Thu, Apr 3, 2008, at 3:20 PM
  • If child services would do something about these cases that are reported I don't think there would be very many abuse cases. I would like to know how many of these 142 dcases were reported to child services. I know one case that has been going on for years, child services makes the parent go to meetings they go to one or two and then stop. Nothing is ever done about it. You would think in that time something would be done. I don't know how they can sleep at nights. Do they really care???

    -- Posted by whopper44 on Thu, Apr 3, 2008, at 3:53 PM
  • I BELIEVE CPS IS DOING A GOOD JOB ON INVESTIGATING CHILD ABUSE IN PUTNAM COUNTY. CPS CANNOT GO IN AND TAKE CHILDREN JUST BECAUSE THEY THINK THE CHILD IS ABUSED. SUBSTANTIATION HAS TO BE MADE THROUGH SEVERAL CHANNELS. CPS HAS TO INVESTIGATE ALL REPORTS, AND UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS A LOT OF FALSE REPORTING WHEN MOTHER/FATHER OR BOYFRIEND/GIRLFRIEND ARE "TRYING TO GET EVEN" WITH EACH OTHER AND USE CPS TO DO THIS. A LOT OF WASTED TIME IS SPENT ON FALSE REPORTS THAT HAVE TO BE INVESTIGATED AND TAKE TIME AWAY FROM LEGITIMATE REPORTS.

    -- Posted by Michele1953 on Fri, Apr 4, 2008, at 6:59 PM
  • I agree with you Michele1953. It would be nice though if they could actually do something about false reporting on the same people,time after time. Everyone knows you do not have to say who you are when you make a report,but maybe they should get a deffinate name from the person making the report on the 3rd call, if it's on the same people they have done a welfare check on 2 times before.

    -- Posted by what_it's_worth on Sun, Apr 6, 2008, at 8:40 PM
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