Youth Statistics

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  The number of children who are abused in this area is rising each year: 

• On average over 19,000 children are brought to the Department's attention annually as alleged victims of abuse or neglect.
•  From 10/2019 thru 09/2020 Fresno County had over 18,073 children with allegations of abuse. Of those alleged victims, 2741 were substantiated allegations. 
• There are approximately 2600 children who are in “out-of-home” care, due to abuse or neglect.
•  Primary reasons for abuse/neglect are: substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, and poverty. 

The CDC reports that any exposure to childhood experiences such as mental illness in the home, school, suicide, death of a parent/loved one, or parental incarceration increases the likelihood of long-term negative effects on the child. These negative effects include: low graduation rates, repeating a grade, behavioral problems, involvement with the criminal justice system, and mental and physical health issues. 

As an organization providing programs for at-risk youth, we see that traumatic exposures can leave kids somewhat vulnerable to complex behavioral, developmental, and social problems, as well as mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and impulse control disorders. Currently our tutor and mentor staff undergo pre season training in the fall, on how to recognize some of these behaviors and report red flags to our directors, or supervisory staff, when they feel the need to report that the child may be suffering from a traumatic event or abuse of any nature.