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Child abuse calls are down 60% in Central Iowa, which is concerning officials Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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STEVE: AN UPTICK IN CHILD ABUSE IS A GROWING CONCERN AS THE PANDEMIC DRAGS ON. BOTH THE DES MOINES POLICE AND THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES SAY FEWER CHILD ABUSE REPORTS ARE COMING IN AND THAT IS NOT GOOD. KCCI’S LAURA TERRELL INVESTIGATES THE PROBLEM. LAURA: RIGHT NOW REPORTS O CHILD ABUSE IN IOWA ARE DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY. THAT DOESN’T MEAN CHILD ABUSE I GOING AWAY, ADVOCATES SAY IT MEANS THERE IS NO ONE AROUND THE REPORT IT. -- TWO REPORTED. DES MOINES POLICE SERGEANT PAUL PARIZEK SAYS THE NUMBER OF CALLS FOR A CHILD IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE IS DOWN MORE THAN 60% COMPARED TO THIS TIME LAST YEAR. SGT. PARIZEK THAT GOT OUR CONCERNS UP RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THAT KIDS ARE GOING TO SCHOOL, THE TEACHERS AND COUNSELORS AND STA THERE ARE NOT SEEING THEM AND RECOGNIZING IF THERE IS A NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. LAURA: WITH LESS PEOPLE LAYING EYES ON CHILDREN LESS CHILD ABUSE REPORTS ARE COMING IN. THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES SAYS IT IS GREATLY CONCERNED TO SEE A DROP FROM MORE THAN 1200 ABUSE REPORTS THE FIRST WEEK OF MARCH, TO 230 THE FIRST WEEK OF APRIL. FOR EDUCATORS, REPORTS IN THAT TIME FRAME WENT FROM 342 DOWN TO 11 SGT. PARIZEK: ABSENT THE SCHOOLS AND COUNSELORS IN PLACES THAT WOULD SPOT THESE ISSUES WITH KIDS RIGHT AWAY, I WOULD SAY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO BE YOUR BEST OUR STOP. BECAUSE WE CAN GO OVER THERE AND CHECK ON THE WELFARE OF THESE CHILDREN. LAURA: FROM CALLING POLICE, TO EMERGENCY SHELTERS, THERE ARE THINGS YOU CAN TO GET HELP DURING THIS PANDEMIC. IT’S OK TO ASK FOR HELP, EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT USED TO IT OR YOU NEVER HAVE. LAURA: YOUTH EMERGENCY SERVICES AND SHELTER IN DES MOINES IS OFFERING ONLINE THERAPY VIDEOS TO HELP FAMILIES COPE WITH THE PRESSURE COOKER SITUATION AT HOME. A 72 HOUR RESPITE SERVICE IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR CHILDRE >> THEY MAY NEED A BREAK JUST BECAUSE OF THE HIGH LEVELS OF STRESS. IT’S A WAY TO SUPPORT THAT FAMILY DURING A STRESSFUL TIME. LAURA: LAURA TERRELL, KCCI 8 NEWS, IOWA’S NEWS LEADER. STEVE: IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE SERVICES YOU CAN CALL 282-YESS. MEANWHILE THE IOWA BOARD OF EDUCATION IS ENCOURAGING SCHOOLS TO CALL CHILDREN AND CHECK I IF YOU SUSPECT A CHILD IS BEING ABUSED OR IS IN DANGER CALL