WATERBURY, Vt. (WCAX) – Is Vermont doing enough to prevent child abuse and neglect? New data shows an increase in reports of child abuse. But despite numbers going back up after a pandemic-era dip, experts say they’re seeing encouraging progress.
According to state data, there were 20,180 reports to the child protection hotline last year. That’s an increase of 455 over 2022.
Overall, reports are returning to pre-pandemic levels after mandatory reporters like teachers didn’t see children during lockdowns.
But 2023 data shows fewer investigations, assessments and interventions taken by the state as a result of the reporting.
“It’s a mixed bag and sorting it out and making things work for families is the highest priority because children don’t get a chance at a second childhood,” said Linda Johnson of Prevent Child Abuse Vermont.
Johnson says it shows efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect are working. But she adds child abuse stems from issues at home like mental health, substance use, poverty issues and more.
“About 80% of the people we see in our family support services have addictions to opioids and then alcohol,” Johnson said. “We’re not seeing people in our family support programs that want to be better parents and nothing terrible has occurred. We’re seeing people after terrible things have occurred and that is almost exclusively.”
She also says staffing challenges and a shortage of foster parents could mean a smaller capacity for officials to get involved.
The Department for Children and Families wasn’t available to comment on the data. But in the report, Commissioner Chris Winters and Deputy Commissioner Aryka Radke wrote the state is working to increase staffing as well as residential options and prevention: “We are working hard to create a workplace worthy of our staff, and support and services worthy of the children and youth in DCF care and custody.”
At the same time, the state is also working on what they call the family-first model, money to fuel DCF partnerships and work groups to keep kids from entering DCF custody.
At the same time, Vermont is in the early stages of creating the Green Mountain Youth Campus, a 14-bed facility in Vergennes.