NORWICH – Those in charge of protecting Chenango County’s children from abuse say they have been bombarded this year with calls from a state-operated hotline.
After the first three months of this year, Chenango County Social Services Commissioner Bette Osborne told town supervisors that she predicted 1,000 calls by year’s end, or about 150 more than were received in 2006. Based on activity since then, officials in the Child Protective and Preventive Services unit said this week that they expect a total of 1,040 compared to 866 last year.
While Chenango County Senior Caseworker Beth Beers said the uptick is “significant,” only a very small percentage of youths are actually taken from the home. The calls received report abuse or maltreatment that could be of a sexual nature.
“Things have been publicized more than what they were before, but there has been no dramatic increase in serious physical or sexual abuse cases,” she said.
In the first six months of 2007, reports in all upstate counties rosae slightly over the last six months in 2006. Statewide there was a drop of about 4 percent in the six month period.
Often publicity surrounding a case of abuse raises awareness as well. According to court reports, in Chenango County this past year there have been at least three different suspects charged with raping children.
Beers attributed more calls to better public knowledge of the Albany-based hotline service, which has been in operation since the mid-1970s.
The New York Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Neglect hotline number is 1-800-342-3720. Callers are not required to identify themselves, but they must provide details that enable officials to locate the child in question. There is no age requirement for callers.
“We urge anyone who suspects that a child may be abused or maltreated to call,” Pat Cantiello, public information officer, said.
The majority of calls being received are from mandated reporters, such as teachers, medical and mental health professionals and law enforcement personnel. However, the number of reports from concerned citizens and family members is on the rise as well.
“The schools and medical professional in this area have been very cooperative,” Beers said.
Once a call is received, the information is transmitted locally within 30 minutes or, if after regular business hours, within 60 minutes. The 12-member unit of the Chenango County Social Services Department is mandated to assess the safety of all of the children in the home within 24 hours, and has 7 days to notify the parents.
“We have many ways to do that,” Beers said, noting that sometimes children are seen at school before parents are contacted.
Beers said the region’s depressed economy places stress on families. Many of the reports received have a tendency to repeat themselves through family generations, she said.