Child abuse cases down in Colorado Springs

A special task force in Colorado Springs is credited with making progress on preventing child abuse and child deaths.

So far in 2012, one child homicide has been reported in Colorado Springs. In 2011, there were 10 child homicides in the city.

“We may be making progress, but we had a lot of deaths in the winter last yea,r and it’s not winter,” said Sally Duncan, injury specialist at Memorial Hospital.

“The (child abuse) numbers are looking really low, and we’re quite hopeful,” said Duncan.

The Not One More Child task force was formed to help parents and caregivers prevent child deaths, abuse and neglect.

The task force has consolidated several child abuse hotlines into one, 1-800-For-A-Child.

“They (caregivers) can call if they are stressed or if they need guidance on how to take care of a child when they don’t know what to do,” said Duncan.

Local hospitals have also pulled together to education parents at the time of birth.

“All new families are getting bed side education on how to prevent abusive head trauma, which is the number one cause of death from child abuse,” said Duncan.

The big factors that lead to child abuse are someone under stress, ill prepared to take care of a child and impatient, said Duncan.

She hopes that continued education and training will keep child abuse and child death numbers low the rest of the year.