HONOLULU (KHON2) — Child and Family Service, a Hawaiʻi based nonprofit, is raising awareness for Child Abuse Prevention Month, which is in April.
The Child and Family Service says that child abuse is a “critical issue” in the islands, with the state Department of Health reporting over 4,200 children reported as potential child abuse victims in 2023, with 788 confirmed child abuse cases.
The most vulnerable age group to child abuse are infants under a year old, who make up over 16% of child abuse victims, with Native Hawaiian children also disproportionately affected making up over 34% of confirmed cases.
Eighty-eight percent of child abuse is conducted by parents, with a fairly even gender split between abusers. The most common forms of child abuse found in Hawaiʻi are threatened harm, neglect and physical abuse. There are also cases of sexual abuse and trafficking, which while they do occur less frequently than other forms of abuse, are still serious concerns.
“One of the biggest barriers to stopping child abuse is the lack of reliable data,” Child and Family Service CEO Amanda Pump said. “Abuse is underreported and difficult to prove. We cannot solve what we cannot see. We need better tracking, stronger outreach and a community-wide commitment to protecting children. Teachers, neighbors, healthcare professionals–everyone has a role in recognizing and reporting abuse. Every child in Hawaiʻi deserves to grow up feeling safe, valued and loved.
Child and Family Service works to strengthen families to help prevent abuse, such as ParentLine, which offers free and confidential phone support for parents and caregivers across the islands. The organization also has Mālama Ola, a voluntary program where visitors can go to the homes of expectant parents and families with young children to help provide parenting education, child development screenings, essentials and more.
“Child abuse prevention starts by strengthening families before crises happen, and that’s what we strive for at CFS,” Pump said. “Recognizing the signs, speaking up and supporting families can save lives. By reporting concerns and advocating for safe environments, we can protect Hawaiʻi’s children–together.”