Child Abuse Cases Climbing

Forensic Nurses at Lake Regional Health System say cases of child abuse are rising dramatically in Mid-Missouri.  From January through September, they report treating 316 cases of child abuse and neglect, with 66% of those involving sexual abuse.  Those numbers were compiled across 22 counties and represent a marked increase over totals in the same time period from last year.  From January through September of 2016, there were 231 cases treated.  The increase continues a growing trend.  The current year numbers are up by more than 80% from 2015.