April is Child Abuse Prevention month, and Wendy Ingersoll with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services says the Pandemic shutdown has caused an increase in cases and adds fixing the problem requires everybody.
"Oh that's just so true you know it's not just one person, and it only takes one person to make a difference in a child's life. And you don't know if you are that person it could be a coach, it could be a teacher., it could be somebody in Sunday school."
Jackson County State's Attorney Joe Cervantez says in order to build healthy cities, it takes healthy children.
"Prosperity of the community depends on how we raise our children., on raising good, faith-filled, hopeful strong independent children."
According to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, between 2015 and 2019 child abuse cases in the nine southernmost counties have increased 102 percent. If you suspect child abuse, you can call 1-800-25-ABUSE
