CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT

Indicator 50

Why is this Important?

Children raised in abusive or neglectful environments are more likely to experience physical and emotional health issues and to display social, cognitive, and behavioral impairments. Abused and neglected children have both immediate and long-term costs for hospitalization, mental health services, educational supports, and legal intervention. Marathon County Department of Social Services provides training to community partners on mandated reporting to ensure that those required by law to report suspected child maltreatment do so when seen in the course of their professional duties.

Anyone who suspects child maltreatment may make a report and is immune from criminal or civil liability. Citizens concerned with a child’s safety are encouraged to report suspected child maltreatment directly to Child Protective Services (CPS) at (715) 261-7556 or local law enforcement. You could be the voice for a vulnerable child.

Key Takeaways

At the close of 2017, Marathon County Department of Social Services had 85 children placed in foster homes and 119 children placed in the homes of relatives due to concerns for child abuse and neglect.

Neglect is the most frequent form of substantiated maltreatment in Marathon County and the State of Wisconsin. In Marathon County from January 2016 to January 2018, approximately 70% of children were placed in out of home care as a result of the drug epidemic.

From January 2016 through the end of 2017, Marathon County Department of Social Services completed 1,327 CPS Initial Assessments (this is 44% of the reports that were called in). Of those assessments, 45% of the children that were involved in the assessments were found to have a preponderance of evidence to support that child maltreatment, according to WI Statute Chapter 48, occurred.

Marathon County has a higher rate of child abuse that the rest of Wisconsin.

Substantiated child abuse rate shows the number of children under 18 years of age that experienced abuse or neglect in cases per 1,000 children.