The headlines always surprise.

They are, however, far from infrequent.

News watchers and readers all too often, quite frankly, come face-to-face with headlines announcing stories of children abused.

Last August, Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services released the 2023 Annual Child Protective Services Report.

Lehigh County saw 1,324 total reports of child abuse, 90 of which were substantiated, according to state figures.

Of those substantiated reports, 58% were of sexual abuse, 19% were of physical abuse/bodily injury and 11% were of serious physical neglect.

Additionally, 63 victims in the substantiated reports were female and 27 were male, 70% and 30% respectively.

Nationally, the figures offer less comfort.

According to the National Children’s Alliance, citing data from the Centers for Disease Control, “one in four girls and one in 13 boys are estimated to experience child abuse.”

Furthermore, the abuse can be fatal.

“In 2022, an estimated 1,990 children died from abuse and neglect in the United States, a number consistently on the rise over the previous five years,” according to the NCA.

According to state data, one fatality from abuse was substantiated in 2023.

The trauma of abuse on those who are abused and/or survive abuse has lasting impacts.

Mental and physical health are damaged. Behaviors change.

There is an economic toll, too.

According to the executive summary of its report, Pennsylvania received “a total of 40,301 reports of suspected child abuse in 2023” with 1.8 substantiated reports per 1,000 children.

That is far too many.

April Peterson

editorial assistant

East Penn Press

Salisbury Press

If you suspect child abuse or neglect, please call Pennsylvania’s ChildLine Hotline at 1-800-932-0313. The line is staffed 24 hours a day every day. A child welfare professional can review your concern and make a referral to the appropriate agency to address the situation.