Kentucky’s child abuse rate rises to fourth highest in the country
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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) – Kentucky’s child abuse rate has increased, according to the latest national report.
The “Child Maltreatment 2023″ report, released this year by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Children’s Bureau, found the rate of child maltreatment victims in Kentucky was 14.2 per 1,000 children.
That means about 14 out of every 1,000 children in Kentucky experienced some form of abuse or neglect during 2023.
The report found most child victims in Kentucky nationally were younger than age 1.
MOREWORKTODO:
Accordingtotherelease,specialistsatNortonChildren’sHospitalwhoworkwithabusevictimsbelieveKentuckyhasalotofroomforimprovement.
Kentuckyfallsbehindinprotectingbabieswho’vehadprenatalsubstanceexposure,whichiswhenapersonusesalcoholorillicitdrugswhilepregnant.Accordingtotherelease,statesarerequiredbyfederallawtocreateplansofsafecareforsubstance-exposedbabiesthataresetinplaceforwhentheyleavethehospitalafterbirth.
“Itmaybeplacingthechildwithanalternatecareg
