THE SHERIFF HAS TO SAY. WELL, APRIL IS CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH, AND ADVOCATES ARE WORKING TO SHOW ALABAMIANS JUST HOW SERIOUS THE ISSUE IS. THE CHILD WELFARE WELFARE LEAGUE OF AMERICA REPORTS OVER 11,000 CHILDREN WERE VICTIMS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN ALABAMA IN 2022. WVTM 13 MYA CALEB REPORTS ON HOW PRESCOTT HOUSE IS COMBATING CHILD ABUSE BEING UNDERREPORTED IN ALABAMA. PRESCOTT HOUSE WANTS TO REMIND YOU OF THE IMPORTANCE OF SAYING SOMETHING. IF YOU SEE SOMETHING. THE NONPROFIT ALSO PROVIDES COUNSELING SERVICES AS WELL AS ASSISTANCE WITH INVESTIGATIONS FOR CASES OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. PRESCOTT HOUSE TELLING WVTM 13 THAT CASES FOR ABUSE AND NEGLECT ARE ALREADY UP IN COMPARISON TO LAST YEAR’S NUMBERS. THE NONPROFIT SAW A DECREASE IN 2020 AND REPORTS AS CHILDREN WERE NO LONGER AROUND THEIR TEACHERS, WHO ARE MANDATED REPORTERS WHEN IT COMES TO ABUSE AND NEGLECT. MERELY MAKING A REPORT TO AN APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY IS NOT ACCUSING SOMEONE OF DOING SOMETHING, THE MANDATORY REPORTING LAW SAYS THAT YOU DON’T HAVE TO KNOW THAT ABUSE OCCURRED. YOU JUST HAVE TO HAVE A REASON TO SUSPECT IT. THE NONPROFIT SAYS STATISTICALLY, NEGLECT IS THE MOST COMMON FORM OF CHILD ABUSE. HOWEVER, THE NONPROFIT DEALS WITH CASES OF SEXUAL ABUSE MORE THAN ANYTHING, ACCORDING TO PRESCOTT, HOUSE’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. MOST VICTIMS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE WILL NOT REPORT BEFORE THE AGE OF 18 DUE TO FEAR, GUILT AND EVEN A LACK OF TRUSTED ADULTS IN THEIR LIFE. MOST. ABUSE, SPECIFICALLY SEXUAL ABUSE, IS PERPETRATED BY SOMEONE KNOWN AND TRUSTED BY THAT FAMILY. AND SO THEY HAVE MANIPULATED THEIR WAY INTO HAVING ACCESS TO THAT CHILD. AND SO THE CHILD THEN, IS A CHILD’S WORD AGAINST A TRUSTED ADULTS WORD. AND THAT’S VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO TELL. THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES RECEIVES OVER 26,000 REPORTS OF CHILD ABUSE ANNUALLY, WITH CLOSE TO 41,000 CHILDREN IN THOSE. ABUSE AND NEGLECT REPORTS I