Child abuse cases go up in FY05

The Commonwealth posted a total of 977 recorded incidents of child abuse and neglect in fiscal year 2005, a 6.6-percent increase over the 916 cases that were posted in fiscal year 2004. Physical neglect and emotional maltreatment ranked high among the four major types of abuse inflicted on the children.

Based on data released by the Division of Youth Services Child Protective Unit, 362 cases of physical neglect were recorded in FY 2005, which makes up 37.05 percent of all cases posted during the fiscal year. Physical neglect, on the other hand, ranked second and numbered 288, or 29.48 percent of the total.

Other types of abuse or neglect were physical abuse with 177, or 18.12 percent; and sexual abuse, with 150 cases, or 15.35 percent of FY 2005’s total.

Of the reported cases, only 588, or 60.18 percent, were substantiated, while 330, or 33.78 percent, were not.

Among the children abused in 2005, some 527, or 53.94 percent, were female; 450, or 46.06 percent, were male.

About 740 cases or 75 percent of the children were classified ethnically as local (either Chamorro or Carolinian), while 86 cases, or 8.8 percent, were Palauans. Abuse of children whose parents come from the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and other areas were also recorded.

The records also showed that primary abuse victims are much higher than secondary victims. Primary victims set a record of 606, or 62.03 percent, while secondary victims, who did not suffer direct abuse, were 371, or 37.97 percent.

The DYS Child Protection Unit also recorded a total of 109 cases under its other services category that includes: adoption studies, assessment, counseling services, custody studies, foster care, psychological services and treatment, referrals, shelter needs and transportation.

Of this number, 87, or 79.82 percent, are children born to local parents; the others come from Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and others.

Official records for fiscal year 2006 are not available yet but based on preliminary accounting of the division, the CNMI has already recorded 455 child abuse and neglect cases for the first quarter.

April is the Child Abuse Prevention Month. During the proclamation signing last month Gov. Benigno R. Fitial said that the economic changes in the Commonwealth during the past 30 years had forced some difficult adjustments to some families.

He noted that some families might have been left behind in terms of educational achievement and economic gains. The close-knit family culture has also eroded because of media and technological influences, along with changes in economics.

“I worry that, during this period of economic stagnation, some of our social problems, including child abuse and neglect, might become aggravated. This is why it is critical for our entire community to pull together and support our administration’s efforts to cure our economic sickness, because the economy affects our social life and our family lives. It also greatly affects our government’s ability to deliver badly needed social services,” Fitial said.

The Division of Youth Services had led several activities this month in observance of the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month. These include parenting workshops and many others.