Kentucky ranks 4th in US for child maltreatment, advocates urge action
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Young children are the most at-risk to become victims of abuse or neglect in Kentucky, with 30% of current victims younger than four years old.
“It’s heartbreaking to see what people will sometimes do to their own children,” LaAnna Mraz said. “There are so many children out there who have no voice.”
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and the latest national Child Maltreatment report shows Kentucky ranks 4th in the nation, with a total of 14,484 child victims of maltreatment in 2023.
Mrazhasseenthetragicimpactfirst-handasacourtappointedspecialadvocate(CASA).CASAoftheHeartlandisnonprofitinHardinCountythatadvocatesforabusedchildren.
“Iwasatchurch,andoneoftheguysatchurchsaidtherewere98kidsonthelistwaitingforaCASAvolunteer,” MrazsaidwhilereflectingonwhyshebecameaCASA.“Asavolunteer,Igettobetheirvoice.”
Shesaidthelistisnowcloserto50children.Formanyabusedchildren,theCASAvolunteersaretheonlyconstantadultpr
