Kentucky has the highest child abuse rate in the country for the third year in a row.
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Children’s Bureau “Child Maltreatment 2019” report — released this year — shows Kentucky had more than 20,000 abuse and neglect cases, meaning approximately 20 out of every 1,000 children in the commonwealth experienced some type of child maltreatment. By comparison, the second-highest state (West Virginia) had a rate of 18.7 per 1,000 kids. The U.S. average is 8.9.
COVID-19 could lead to more abuse
Experts are concerned the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to a spike in child abuse numbers for 2020. The pandemic left families faced with financial, emotional and other stresses — combined with spending long periods of time isolated at home with a lack of structure and support. These stressors can lead to potentially dangerous situations.