By Nada Atieh, Redding Record Searchlight, June 22, 2020
An alarmingly low number of child abuse cases were reported to Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency's Children’s Branch in April and May, going undetected as a symptom of the pandemic.
In April 2019, 347 cases of child abuse were reported in contrast to 158 cases in April 2020, according to Shasta County Health and Human Services Children’s branch. And in May 2019, 366 child abuse cases were reported while only 169 reports were received last month.
While the sharp decline in cases would be something to celebrate pre-COVID-19, the lack of child abuse reports is linked to the disruption of school attendance in the last few month as a result of the stay-at-home order that went into effect mid-March, said Nancy Bolen, Children's Services director. Children and teens weren't seen in class and school authorities weren't able to report signs of harm or neglect.
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