Washington County Sheriff’s Department
As Child Abuse Rises, More Parent Education Needed
An op ed by Donnie Smith, Washington County Sheriff
And Jane Weil, Board member Maine Infant Mental Health Association and Member, Maine Children’s Growth Council
Governor Baldacci recently issued a proclamation declaring April “Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month.” We applaud our chief executive’s willingness to shine a spotlight on this serious problem in Maine at this critical time.
Although there are many factors that contribute to child abuse and neglect, it is a fact that domestic violence and child maltreatment increases as unemployment rises during an economic recession. The tie between unemployment and economic recession with increased child abuse is of special concern to us at a time of major lay-offs like the one at the Baileyville Domtar mill. Washington County already has a high rate of unemployment and we worry about the possibility that more children will be in stressful situations as parents lose jobs.
We are seeing increased rates of domestic violence play out across Maine. In 2008 there were 31 homicides statewide – the highest number since 1989 and 10 more homicides than in 2007. When examined more closely, we see that roughly two-thirds of these homicides were domestic-related. The sad reality is that five of these cases involved deaths of defenseless young children, like 2-year-old Damon Nason of East Machias.
Of course, most cases of child abuse don’t end in homicides. Abused and neglected children grow into adulthood, but the scars of abuse never really fade. They may lighten and disappear over time, but just below the surface they linger. The sad reality is that kids who survive abuse and neglect face many challenges throughout their lives. Abused children are more likely to grow up to be adults who are unemployed, have marital problems, and are nearly two-and-a-half times more likely to attempt suicide. They are also more likely to abuse their own children.
According to the recently released Maine Kids Count data report by the Maine Children’s Alliance, 4,233 children were confirmed victims of child abuse and/or neglect. Research indicates that of those abused children, approximately 160 will become violent criminals as adults as a direct result of the abuse and neglect they endured. Year after year in Maine, child abuse and neglect creates more violent criminals, and more likely abusers, and more people with problem-ridden lives.
Where does this leave us? How can we prevent children from suffering from abuse or neglect? Fortunately, we have an important resource that can help prevent this terrible tragedy.
Home visiting programs that offer voluntary parent coaching are proven to dramatically reduce child abuse and neglect. Trained professionals go into homes and help young at-risk parents build positive parenting skills, help manage the stress of parenting, improve parent-child interactions and improve the child’s school readiness. Parent coaches also promote access to community service and support parents in creating healthy homes that discourage alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, and are free of abuse and neglect.
Home visiting results in tremendous benefits to the families served and to society. Most participating families never have to enter the child welfare system, thus preventing separation of children from parents as well as future dependence on public assistance programs and future criminality and those costs to our society.
In a long-term study of one model, the Nurse-Family Partnership, children whose mothers participated were half as likely to be abused or neglected compared to children whose parents did not receive in-home parent coaching. Also, the children and mothers not in the program had about twice as many arrests when they grew up than those who did participate.
Intensive home visiting not only saves and saves taxpayer dollars. Child abuse and neglect costs Americans more than $80 billion every year -- $400 million in Maine alone. A Washington State Institute for Public Policy study projects that a rigorous home visiting program like Nurse Family Partnership would save the people of Maine five dollars for each dollar invested.
Currently Maine spends approximately $4.5 million annually on home visitation programs across all 16 counties. Due to underfunding, Maine’s current programs serve less than 20% of eligible parents. Nevertheless, the State Legislature is currently considering a budget that proposes to reduce funding for this prevention program substantially. During a time when incidents of abuse are rising, cutting the only prevention funding for child abuse and neglect is simply a move in the wrong direction.
We can save and improve lives, reduce crime and save future taxpayer dollars by more fully funding voluntary home visiting. The easiest way to improve Maine’s future is to ensure our youngest generation is safe and sound in their home.
