Child Abuse is Everybody's Business
"If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, he learns to find
love in the world." -- Dorothy Law Nolte
When children live in environments that are violent or are not secure, the costs to society over time are enormous. The cycle of violence and neglect continues and grows in an ever-expanding circle. The results are increases in juvenile delinquency, adult criminality, homelessness, substance abuse, medical, educational and mental health problems, promiscuity and broken homes. Several factors have been determined to contribute to increasing child abuse, neglect and abandonment. These risk factors, which include substance abuse, poverty, unemployment, divorce, births to unmarried women, mental health problems, homelessness and societal violence are prevalent in Yolo County.
According to the 1990 census:
- The divorce rate has doubled since 1960
- Nearly one in five pre-school children was living in poverty
- 6% of kindergartners were not fully immunized.
- More than one in five children were living with a single parent
- 16% of the households had incomes less than $10,000/year
The following 1994 statistics demonstrate additional increased risk factors in Yolo County:
- Nearly one in three infants were born to an unmarried mother
- One in seven children was born to a teen mother
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