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It s Child Abuse Prevention Month and this year the awareness campaign comes in the wake of a hard year with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Idaho saw a drastic uptick in abuse deaths during the pandemic: five in the past year. Before that, there had been no reported abuse deaths since 2017.
Molly Kaczmarek, practice manager for St. Luke s Children at Risk Evaluation Services clinic, said financial hardship and social isolation have played a role in increased trauma. We really are just worried about families and families needing to know that there s help out there, Kaczmarek explained. There s been some resources created and information sent out, and April as Child Abuse Prevention Month is just one more opportunity that we have to raise awareness.