HAZARD, Ky. (WYMT) – The WalletHub study, States with the Most Deprived Children in 2021, ranked Kentucky 10th overall, but 1st for the highest number of abused children.
August is Child Support Awareness Month, a national campaign that highlights services that focus on the health and wellbeing of children. In honor of the month, WalletHub conducted this study.
Nearly 20 in 1,000 children in Kentucky are molested. The lawyers at Judi’s Place for Kids in Pikeville know this subject only too well:
“Most parents love their child and don’t want to hurt them, but sometimes they do,” says Delphia Branham, family and child advocate at Judi’s Place. Branham adds that it’s hard to say why people abuse children:
“Financial problems, mental health problems, alcohol, substance abuse, there are a variety of things.”
Not only can these problems contribute to child abuse, but also the fact that resources to help these problems are often scarce in rural areas.
Knott County Attorney Tim Bates said giving more money to our foster care and social work programs can help fight child abuse in Kentucky:
“I don’t think it will get any worse when we have the legislature that goes ahead and puts the money in. It’s our children, it’s our future, it’s worth it. “
Both Branham and Bates said if you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, speak up and report them.
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