2022 West Virginia child abuse statistics released; HFCH CAC reports minor decrease in cases

Hoops Family Children’s Hospital Child Advocacy Center reports minor decrease in cases

Earlier this week, the West Virginia Child Advocacy Network (WVCAN) released its Statewide Data for the 2022 fiscal year (July 1, 202, to June 30, 2022). The data in the report reflects service from West Virginia’s 21 Child Advocacy Centers (CACs), which provided official service to 45 of 55 counties in the state. A CAC provides a safe, child-friendly facility where child protection, criminal justice and child treatment professionals work together to investigate abuse, hold offenders accountable and help children heal.

During this past fiscal year, the Hoops Family Children’s Hospital Child Advocacy Center (HFCH CAC) – the only hospital-based CAC in Huntington – saw 256 children, which is 3% fewer than last year. West Virginia CACs served 4,703 children – a 10% increase in new children served in the last five years.

Some of the highlights from the HFCH CAC report include:

• 43% of children served were because of allegations of sexual abuse
• 26% of children served were six years old or younger
• 99% of alleged offenders were someone the child knew
• 26% of children are reported to have one or more disabilities

“As the only hospital-based child advocacy center in the Huntington area, we are committed to offering children and families the compassionate care that is necessary to reduce the trauma often experienced by children who are victims of abuse,” said Angela Seay, BA, MS, LSW, coordinator of the HFCH CAC. “We provide therapy, courtroom preparation, victim advocacy, forensic interviews and medical exams in a safe environment with trained professionals and medical providers who are dedicated to advocating for our at-risk patients.”

The WVCAN report includes data on victim demographics, alleged offender demographics, reported vs. disclosed abuse, services performed, criminal justice response, and CAC income budget breakdown. The full statewide data report can be found here.

For more information about the HFCH CAC, please call 304.526.2349 or visit https://hoopschildrens.org/facilities-and-programs/child-advocacy-center/.