Economic stress impacts child abuse rates Published April 16, 2009 By Erin Hennessy Family Advocacy Program HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- Across the United States, social services agencies are witnessing a significant increase in cases of domestic violence and child abuse, neglect. A mounting number of families are being impacted by the economic crisis and the correlation between financial stressors and maltreatment is becoming more and more apparent as evidenced by the soaring number of calls to crisis hotlines, emergency shelter admissions and utilization of social services agencies. More than three million cases of child abuse are reported to authorities annually in the United States, according to Childhelp USA, a national child abuse prevention organization. For every incident of child abuse or neglect that is reported, it is estimated that two go unreported. An estimated four children a day die from abuse. Childhelp USA receives 200,000 calls annually on their National Child Abuse Hotline and by the end of 2008 had seen the number increase by about 10 percent. The Family Advocacy Program at Hanscom works closely with on and off-base agencies to offer a variety of options for parents. FAP offers marriage and parental counseling. The New Parent Support Program is a home-based program to provide military families with the skills needed for a happy and healthy childrearing experience. Any military family that is expecting a child or has a child under the age of three is eligible for services. Services are primarily provided in the home but office visits are available as well. The Family Advocacy Program regularly offers stress management, anger management and 1-2-3 Magic Parenting Classes as well as DADS 101. To learn more about the programs and classes offered by FAP call 781-377-4617. Other resources available to assist parents and caregivers are: -Parental Stress Hotline 1-800-632-8188 (24 hr) -Child-At-Risk-Hotline 1-800-792-5200 (24 hr) -Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-4-A-CHILD (24 hr) -Massachusetts Children's Trust Fund 1-888-775-4-KIDS -Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children 1-800-442-3035 -Massachusetts Citizens for Children 617-742-8555 -Massachusetts Family Network 1-800-447-8844