Friday is Children’s Memorial Day, which honors children who have lost their lives as a result of child abuse or neglect. Shasta County’s rate of adverse childhood experiences and substantiated cases of child abuse per capita are more than triple the state average. The county’s child abuse hotline was called 3,394 times last year, leading to 1,575 investigations, which became 479 substantiated cases resulting in 196 children entering the foster care system. Last year California recorded 95 child fatalities related to abuse and neglect, including two in Shasta County. People are encouraged to learn how to recognize the warning signs and reach out. The 24 hour hotline to report suspected abuse is 530-225-5144. Officials say that sometimes the best way to help children is to offer a helping hand to parents, or to become a mentor, or a foster parent. Court appointed special advocates are also needed to guide children through the system. At 9 O’clock Friday morning the annual Children’s Memorial Flag Raising Ceremony will take place at Whistle Stop Park Downtown on Market Street. More about these issues can be learned at shastacountycaresforkids.com and shastastrengtheningfamilies.org.
-Steve Gibson