Latest data reveals Kentucky has more child abuse cases than the national average

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Most victims of child abuse in Kentucky are younger than 4 years old, and some cases of neglect are leading to child overdose deaths.

The latest data on Child Maltreatment shows there were 12,340 Kentucky victims in 2022. That's nearly half as many as 2018, when the commonwealth saw nearly 24,000 abused children.

"We're talking about kids under 4 who are suffering the worst kind of abuse," state Rep. Morgan McGarvey said. "The most preventable types of abuse."

Thousands of Kentucky children are neglected, exploited, and abused every year.

"Are we doing enough?" Louisville Deputy Mayor Barbara Sexton Smith asked the crowd at a rally to end child abuse on Thursday.

When compared to other states, Kentucky has the 14th-highest rate of child abuse cases in the country. Indiana is just behind, in 15th place.

But it hasn't been long since Kentucky ranked much higher.

"It wasn't 11 years ago when we were No. 1," Eric Friedlander, secretary of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, said. "It was 2019. It was 2020."

For the past 140 years, Family & Children's Place has helped roughly 5,000 victims annually. On Thursday, the nonprofit held its annual rally to highlight the local work that's ending child abuse and neglect in Kentucky and Indiana.

The nonprofit's president and C.E.O., Pam Darnall, attributes the recent decline in Kentucky's child abuse cases to better legislation and more child advocacy centers.

"How we support healthy families today is how we will end child abuse in our community," Darnall said.

She also said the largest portion of child abuse and fatalities in the state comes from substance abuse in households. Children are overdosing after accidentally taking opioids or fentanyl.

Jefferson County Commonwealth's Attorney Gerina Whethers said her office has handled more than 140 cases of child abuse recently.

"We've handed 41 cases of child physical abuse," Whethers said. "Eleven cases of child exploitation, 64 cases of child sexual abuse, and 23 cases dealing with child violence."

Roughly five children die in the U.S. every day from child abuse and neglect. Local officials hope that soon, none of those deaths will be from Kentucky or Indiana.

"Let's have the rally to end child abuse tomorrow in our homes, in our churches and in our communities," Barry Dunn, Kosair Charities president and CEO, said. "Let's go out and do something about it."

Despite the overall rate of child abuse cases dropping for several straight years, leaders said there's still work to do in the commonwealth.

"I don't think we can live long enough to see zero," Sexton Smith said. "But are we going to to get up every day, and give it our best?"

To learn more about Family & Children's Place, click here.