Child Abuse Spiking as Local Economy Gets Worse

There’s word out today that with the U.P. economy in bad shape, the number of kids in the area being abused is on the rise.

The Great Lakes Center for Youth Development has just put out the U.P.’s Kids Count report.

It looks at various aspects of kids’ well-being.

In 2000, about 1 out of every 120 kids in the U.P. was a confirmed victim of abuse or neglect.

In 2007, it was 1 in 60.

Part of that has to do with tough economic times.

The number of U.P. kids receiving food stamp assistance has nearly doubled since 2000.

With the economy going downhill in 2008 and more rough times likely this year, we may not have reached the bottom yet.

Paul Olson from the GLCYD says the food stamp issue illustrates a rise in the number of working poor families whose jobs don’t provide enough money to make it.

He says calling 211 from any phone in the U.P. is a great way to track down any kind of social service that can help.

The U.P. report is broken down county-by-county.

If you want to see it, you can visit the center in Marquette or its website, www.glcyd.org.