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 substantiated cases of child abuse per capita are more than triple the state average. The county’s child abuse hotline was called 3,368 times last year, leading to 1,908 investigations, which became 556 substantiated cases resulting in 197 children entering the foster care system. Two children died last year and four the previous year as a result of child abuse and neglect in Shasta County. People are encouraged to learn how to recognize the warning signs and reach out. The hotline to report suspected abuse is 225-5144. Officials say that sometimes the best way to help children is to offer help to parents, or to become a mentor or foster parent. Court appointed special advocates are also needed to guide children through the system with a personal connection. At 9 O’clock Friday morning the annual children memorial flag raising ceremony will take place at the Shasta County Courthouse. Attendees will include Health and Human Services, Pathways to Hope for Children, First 5, the Children’s Legacy Center and others working to reduce the cycle of violence.
– Steve Gibson