{"id":2173,"date":"2021-02-02T11:49:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-02T18:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/co4kids.org\/?p=2173"},"modified":"2023-06-06T16:29:47","modified_gmt":"2023-06-06T22:29:47","slug":"colorado-child-abuse-and-neglect-hotline-2020-data-shows-13-percent-drop-in-calls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/co4kids.org\/es\/community-blog\/colorado-child-abuse-and-neglect-hotline-2020-data-shows-13-percent-drop-in-calls\/","title":{"rendered":"Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline 2020 Data Shows 13 Percent Drop in Calls"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline 2020 Data Shows 13 Percent Drop in Calls<\/h1><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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DENVER <\/strong>(Feb. 2, 2021) \u2013 The Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline, 844-CO-4-KIDS, experienced a 13% year-over-year drop in calls in 2020 (193,448 in 2020 compared to 219,478 in 2019). Calls from education professionals decreased by nearly 30% and calls from medical professionals decreased by nearly 11% while calls from family and friends increased 5%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUsually, we see a drop in calls when school ends for summer, but the decrease started much sooner – in March when remote learning began – and continued throughout the summer until in-person learning resumed in the fall,\u201d said Michelle Barnes, executive director of Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). \u201cAs schools reopened with some form of in-person learning, calls to the hotline increased but have not returned to pre-pandemic levels.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Risk factors for child abuse and neglect include social isolation, family and parenting stress, financial uncertainty and insecurity, and the absence of child care or school \u2014 all factors that increased during the pandemic. In nearly 70% of child welfare cases, counties are able to provide services directly to families to help them address some of these issues so children can remain safely at home with their parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDuring the pandemic, it is even more important for all of us to reach out to the parents we know and ask how we can help,\u201d said Minna Castillo Cohen, director of the CDHS Office of Children, Youth and Families. \u201cCoronavirus has brought many unknowns but what we do know is that we need one another. Help a family when you can and know that it\u2019s okay to call 844-CO-4-Kids if you\u2019re concerned about a child or youth\u2019s safety and well-being.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Historically, more than 80% of the child abuse and neglect allegations in Colorado were classified as neglect, not abuse. Strengthening families is the best way to prevent child abuse and neglect, and support from friends, neighbors, employers and all community members can help to build resiliency for families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone in Colorado can help to strengthen families, even those who aren\u2019t raising a child or working with children or families every day. For example,<\/p>\n\n\n\n