CARES: Medical assessments for child abuse victims

One area your gift supports at CARES Northwest is urgent assessments. These are same-day medical evaluations of children being seen for concerns of serious physical abuse, sexual abuse or neglect. In 2010, CARES Northwest served 375 children for urgent assessments. Through August 2011, we have served 272 children, which annualized would equate to 408 or a 9% increase over the previous year.

CARES Northwest has seen an upward trend in urgent appointments over the past six years. In 2006, urgent appointments represented one out of every six children served, or less than one per day. Today, more than one out of every four children are seen urgently, averaging more than one per day and sometimes reaching as many as eight per day.

Children seen on an urgent basis:

• Tend to be younger
• Are more likely to be in protective custody or foster care
• Are more apt to be evaluated for concerns of physical abuse
• Are more likely to be diagnosed as victims of abuse

Now more than ever, your support is needed to help these children. Thank you.

Links:

• www.legacyhealth.org/caresnwgiving