HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Child abuse has been an issue in West Virginia for years and new numbers released this week reflect the problem hasn’t gotten any better.
The Hoops Family Children’s Hospital Child Advocacy Center (CAC), the only hospital-based CAC in Huntington, served 278 victims of child abuse in 2023.
Of those 278 victims, more than half were sexually abused.
“It’s a sad truth in our society that this is not going away,” coordinator Angie Seay told MetroNews Friday.
Some of the highlights from the report include:
- 68% of children served were because of allegations of sexual abuse
- 11% of children served were 13 years old or younger
- 96% of alleged offenders were someone the child knew
- 8% of children were reported to have one or more disabilities
Seay said it’s very rare that a child is abused by stranger.
“The highest percentages are parents, stepparents, boyfriends/girlfriends living in the home and then it branches out to other family members and friends,” she said.
During this past year, West Virginia CACs served 4,879 children. That’s a 10% increase in new children served in the last five years.
Seay said their goal at the Huntington center is to stay with the child to make sure they’re taken care of after the abuse.
“We’re trying to lessen the trauma in all aspects,” she said. “We try to make this an environment where the kids can feel comfortable and safe and then we help them through the entirety of the case and that includes court and providing them with therapy services.”
One of the ways to stop child abuse is by recognizing the signs, Seay said.
“Paying attention to ques from the children such as maybe not wanting to go over to the friend’s house anymore. Sudden behavioral changes are also things to look for. Talking to your children about the anatomically correct names for your genitalia is important,” she said.
The data released this was derived from the West Virginia Child Advocacy Network (WVCAN) Statewide Data Report including West Virginia’s 21 CACs, which serve 45 of 55 counties in the state.