Abuse likely going unreported
WHAT THE NEXT STEPS SHOULD
BE.>> MORE ADVICE ON CHECKING
IN AND CARING FOR YOUR MENTAL
HEALTH COMING UP TONIGHT ON NBC
NIGHTLY NEWS AT 6:30
>>> SINCE ESTATE HOME ORDERS
BEGAN REPORTS OF CHILD ABUSE
AND WAKE COUNTY HAVE DROPPED
DRASTICALLY.
THIS MAY SEEM LIKE GOOD NEWS ON
THE SURFACE BUT IT IS VERY
ALARMING TO THOSE WHO WORK WITH
FAMILIES ON PREVENTING ABUSE
AND NEGLECT.
WRAL'S MANDY MITCHELL DIGS
DEEPER INTO THE NUMBERS TO
EXPLAIN WHY IT IS SUCH A
CONCERN.>>REPORTER: PLAYGROUNDS
AROUND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE
QUIET AND SO OUR SCHOOLS,
CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE
BEING ASKED TO STAY INSIDE
WHERE IT IS SAFE AND HEALTHY
BUT FOR SOME CHILDREN BEING
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS WITH NO
WATCHFUL EYES IS ANYTHING BUT
SAFE>> IT IS WHAT KEEPS ME UP
AT NIGHT AND I'M WORRIED THAT
CHILDREN IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY
ARE BEING NEGLECTED THE
DIRECTOR OF CHILD WELFARE OF
WAKE COUNTY KEEPS A CLOSE EYE
ON REPORTS OF ABUSE WHICH HAVE
SHARPLY DECLINED THIS PAST
MONTH.>> THIS TYPE OF DEGREES
IS NOT INDICATIVE THAT ABUSE
AND NEGLECT IS GOING TO BUT
MORE INDICATIVE OF LESS
REPORTING SPIRIT LOOK AT THE
GRAPH ILLUSTRATING THE DROP,
THE YELLOW LINE IS LAST YEAR
WITH REPORTS OF ABUSE HAVING
AROUND 160 AND THE BLUE LINE IS
THIS YEAR WHICH DROPPED FROM
164 DOWN TO 89 WHICH TOOK PLACE
BETWEEN THE SECOND WEEK OF
MARCH AND THE SECOND WEEK OF
APRIL THAT IS NOT JUST WAKE
COUNTY, IT IS A PATTERN,
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
FOR THE PAST YEARS I HAVE BEEN
IN THIS PROFESSION I HAVE NEVER
SEEN THOSE TYPES OF DROPS.>> A
BIG REASON FOR THIS IS BECAUSE
KIDS ARE NOT IN SCHOOL AND
TEACHERS ARE OFTEN THE FIRST TO
NOTICE ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND
REPORT IT TO AUTHORITIES.>>
HISTORICALLY THEY HAVE BEEN THE
LARGEST REPORTERS>> SHE IS
HOPING OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY
WILL HELP FILL THE GAP CHECKING
IN WITH NEIGHBORS AND PAYING
ATTENTION TO WHAT IS HAPPENING
WITH CHILDREN IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.>> WE HAVE GOT TO
BE CREATIVE IN HOW WE LEARN HOW
OTHERS ARE DOING.>> TAKING TIME
TO BE THAT EXTRA SET OF EYES OR
A HELPFUL HAND AND A YOU KNOW
USUAL TIME.
>> EXPERTS SAY IF YOU THINK YOU
HEAR OR SEE SOMETHING UNUSUAL