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REPORT TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />MONDAY, MAY 17, 2004 <br /> <br />Child Abuse and Neglect... Serious Issues in Cabarrus County <br />The abuse and neglect of children is a serious issue in Cabarms County, as it is in most <br />other counties in North Carolina. It is aggravated by poverty and economic conditions but <br />is by no means confined to low income families. Substance abuse is often present in <br />families where abuse and neglect of children is occurring. <br /> <br />The impact of child abuse and neglect is great. Children are less likely to be healthy and <br />successful in school; more likely to drop out of school in adolescence and develop <br />substance abuse problems; more likely to enter the criminal justice system and to become <br />less productive adults. The entire community pays a great price for neglected children, <br />not just the individual child. <br /> <br />Numbers for 2002-2003 <br /> <br />YEAR # OF REPORTS #SUBSTANTIATED % SUBSTANTIATED #CHILDREN RATE/1000 <br /> <br />02-03 1147 255 22.23% 1806 48.73/1000 <br /> <br />The Child Victimization Council...A NC legislative Mandate <br />The Community Child Protection Team and The Child Fatality Task Force together form <br />the Child Victimization Council for our county. Both are mandated by state law. One or <br />the other meets every month during the year on the fourth Wednesday of the month from <br />12 to 2p.m. <br /> <br />NorthEast Medical Center staff members are members of both the Child Protection Team <br />and the Child Fatality Task Force. The hospital operates the Children's Advocacy Center <br />located at NorthEast to conduct multidisciplinary investigations of child physical abuse <br />or sexual abuse. The CAC is an extremely important part of our county's investigative <br />and treatment efforts with young children. <br /> <br />Membership <br />The Child Protection Team has met continuously since 1992. The team meets eight times <br />a year with staff members from the Department of Social Services. Team members <br />include representatives from both school systems, Head Start, medical profession, <br />developmental disabilities, Cooperative Christian Ministry, law enforcement, Juvenile <br />Justice, the district attorney's office, Child Care Resources and mental health. A list of <br />the members of the CCPT is attached. <br /> <br /> <br />