Number of Iowa child abuse cases down

The number of child abuse cases has declined in Iowa in the last two years, state officials said, reflecting what they say is a national trend.

Last year, state child abuse investigators completed child abuse or neglect assessments in more than 23,000 cases after receiving complaints from the public. That is down 2 percent over the previous year.

Some cases involve more than one child. Last year, just over 11,000 Iowa children were abused or neglected, down from nearly 12,800 cases in 2007.

"While the trend of lower abuse is encouraging - and I truly hope we can keep it going - it is also clear that far too many Iowa children are put in harm's way," Charles Krogmeier, director of the Iowa Department of Human Services, said in a statement.

State officials say one of the reasons for the lower number of cases is improved efforts by DHS to prevent the re-abuse of children and strengthening abuse prevention efforts at the local level.

The department redesigned its child welfare system in 2005, implementing a strategy of holding family team meetings.

Those meetings include caretakers and the people important in their lives, such as teachers, relatives or neighbors who help them obtain services, complete drug treatment or attend parenting classes. DHS also has developed a parenting mentor program and provides counseling free of charge.

Domestic violence and substance abuse remain the biggest risk factors for children, Krogmeier said.

Roughly 80 percent of the 2008 cases were neglect, or what state officials refer to as "denial of critical care" commonly found in cases were parents or caretakers are impaired by drug use.

Of all of last year's cases, over 6,100 of those cases were founded, with a perpetrator being placed on the child abuse registry. Another 1,840 cases were confirmed, where officials found the neglect or abuse was minor and unlikely to recur.

State Rep. Lisa Heddens, D-Ames, is in favor of the DHS's programs to assist parents so they don't feel overwhelmed and take it out on a child.

"Whatever we can do that is more proactive and preventative is the smart way of doing things," Heddens said.

She does have concerns that programs that have helped address children's needs might see a reduction in staff as state revenues have dropped.

"That is a very real concern," Heddens said.

Officials said this week that state revenues were down 4.5percent over the same period a year ago, and the DHS has already seen significant budget cuts along with other state agencies.

Child abuse statistics in Iowa

-- Children 5 or younger make up 53 percent of abuse cases in Iowa.

-- Physical abuse cases represent 11 percent of child abuse cases; sexual abuse cases are 4 percent.

-- Last year, 110 abuse cases involved exposing children to the manufacturing or use of dangerous substances, up from 68 cases in 2007. Overall cases dropped after a state law made it harder to purchase a key ingredient in making illegal methamphetamine.

Source: Iowa Department of Human Services