Direct correlation between Poverty and Child Abuse

Posted by: Paul Davis, Member Services Director at Vistage International and Home Start board member since 1997

The U.S. poverty rate rose to 14.3 percent in 2009 from 13.2 percent the year before, bringing the percentage of the population living in poverty to the highest level since 1994.The Census Bureau said 43.6 million people, or one in seven Americans, lived in poverty last year, up from 39.8 million in 2008.

"The poverty threshold for a family of four in 2009 was $21,954, the report said. While  poverty levels rose, the number of people without health insurance jumped to 50.7 million in 2009 from 46.3 million a year earlier, leaving 16.7 percent of the population without health coverage, the Census Bureau said in its annual report on income, poverty and health coverage. These startling numbers indicate that poverty in the US is all time high- nearly 1 in four blacks and Hispanics is living at or below the poverty level.

Home Start, San Diego premiere child abuse prevention agency, is needed more than ever.

Data suggests that poverty, social, economic and environmental conditions affect the increased level of child abuse. In 2009, child abuse cases in San Diego rose  more than 20 percent. Home Start serves more than 15,000 child in need of critical human and health services.  There is direct correlation between poverty and child abuse. Now is the time to offer ones time, treasure or talents to end child abuse.

Visit www.home-start.org for more details to donate and/or volunteer.