Cook County Health Awarded $750,000 by the Office for Victims of Crime to Combat Child Abuse and Neglect

Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - Health

Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - Health

Despite numerous efforts focusing on child maltreatment prevention, child abuse and neglect remain a tragically common occurrence in the U.S., with thousands of children dying each year. In Cook County alone, 25,918 cases of child abuse and neglect were reported for fiscal year 2019. Among reported cases, 35 children died because of caregiver abuse or neglect. In fact, for children living in Cook County, the rate of child abuse and neglect resulting in death or serious injury has remained steady from 2014 to 2019, with a slight uptick in 2019. Cook County Health (CCH) recognizes the urgency of this issue and has been awarded $750,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime to closely study the problem. The grant monies will be dispersed over three years and will be used to put a strategic plan in place to reduce child fatalities and recurring injuries. Together with the Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center, CCH will bring together other critical stakeholders to form the Collaboration of Helpers Lowering Deaths of Children (Project CHILD). Project CHILD is aimed at reducing the incidence of child maltreatment across three Illinois counties, namely, Cook, Peoria and Vermillion.

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