STRAFFORD COUNTY COMMUNITY NEEDS
DOMESTIC AND CHILD ABUSE
According to the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, 90 to 95% of domestic violence victims are women. 92% of women who were physically abused by their partners did not discuss these incidents with their physicians; 57% did not discuss the incidents with anyone.
Local police report that 10 to 14 incidents of abuse occur in a household before police receive a phone call. Also, on average, 7 to 10 attempts to leave a relationship normally occur before a victim is successful, according to Officer Mike McQuade of the Rochester Police Department.
Foster's Daily Democrat,July 12, 2000
Rochester is second only to Manchester in the number of domestic abuse restraining orders issued.
Source: National Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
"In 2001, more than 7,000 New Hampshire children were reported to the state child protection agency for concerns of child abuse or nelect, yet that agency has stated it does not have the resources to investigate and protect all those children."
Children's Alliance of New Hampshire, November, 2002
Peter Odum, Deputy Attorney for Strafford County recently said, "The idea that the child molester is the man with the greasy hair and green teeth in the dirty raincoat who grabs little children is incorrect. It's more likely to be the man in the Boy Scout uniform, or the coach's cap or the frock..." In his comments, Odum also cited examples from recent cases he has prosecuted a former mayor, a pediatrician, a police officer, and former "Father of the Year."
Manchester Union Leader, March 1, 2002
From October 1, 2003 to September 30, 2004, the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) conducted 677 child abuse/neglect assessments in Strafford County households, substantiating 84 assessments without regard to maltreatment type. Some assessments included more than one child.
132 children were found to be victims of abuse. Some children had been subjected to more than one category of abuse.
The Strafford County households in which child abuse occured were often marked by domestic violence, and by levels of substance abuse higher than the State average.
The most likely persons to report suspected cased of child abuse in Strafford County to DCFY are education and law enforcement personnel.
Prevent Child Abuse NH(PCA NH) coordinates public education and training programs for Seacoast area schools, organizations, and agencies through their office at 83 Washington St. in Dover. For more information on PCA NH programs in the Seacoast area call 749-0615.