The Sentinel

Child abuse cases rise in Indiana, leaving both mental and physical scars

Indiana is a mandated reporting state. More than 7,500 children were removed from their homes last year because of abuse and neglect.

by Terri Dee
Indiana News Service

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - More than 7,500 Indiana children were removed from their homes last year because of abuse and neglect. According to The Indiana Youth Institute's 2024 Kids Count Data Book, that number represents a 26% increase from 2022.

Indiana's Child Abuse and Neglect Law includes persistent hunger and ongoing fatigue as symptoms of behavioral abuse.

Jeff Wittman, Prevent Child Abuse Indiana director, said child abuse resulting in bruises, broken bones and some lacerations may be easier to see than less obvious -- and potentially more serious -- forms of abuse.

"But the things that go unnoticed or harder to see are changes in behavior. So it's incumbent upon adults and those in roles of caregiving and authority and things like that, to be aware of children, to know them well enough where you can see changes in behaviors," he said.

Indiana's code lists additional signs of sexual abuse of minors as the child having sexual knowledge well beyond their age, imitating sexual behavior and a preoccupation with their bodies every adult at least 18 years of age has a legal obligation to report child abuse and neglect cases.

Every adult at least 18 years of age has a legal obligation to report child abuse and neglect cases.

Wittman said the agency will occasionally receive calls from concerned citizens who have witnessed an incident or a child's actions and sense that something isn't quite right. He said people are familiar with the phrase 'when you see something, say something,' and are more proactive about picking up a phone and calling the agency. He said, as a society, "This is really where we need to be" to help an abused or neglected child."

"If we see situations that bring to mind or cause us to be concerned, where children might not be getting their basic needs met, or they seem to always be hungry and never have, enough food or maybe they are, crying all the time, or they're running away from their parents," he added.

Wittman explained that Indiana is a mandated reporting state, which means every adult at least 18 years of age has a legal obligation to report child abuse and neglect cases.

To report child abuse and neglect, call the hotline at 1-800-800-5556.

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Happy days for homeschool parents, Illinois HB2827 stalls in the House

House Bill 2827 fails to pass Illinois House. Some Democrats spoke out against bill regulating Illinois homeschool practices while the sponsor says, "it is necessary to ensure homeschool children are protected."

Homeschool student studying with laptop — A young student does research on her laptop at home. According to opponents, House Bill 2827 creates a lot of red tape for homeschooled children. It would make schools pass records up through several layers of government and require tracking down families to review what they’re teaching and whether their kids are skipping school or not. The measure failed to make it out of the Illinois House on Friday.

By Greg Bishop .::. Associate Editor
The Center Square

SPRINGFIELD - Homeschool parents worried about the state of Illinois imposing regulations on the practice have a reprieve after the measure failed to advance.

House Bill 2827 accumulated tens of thousands of opponent witness slips filed against it since the measure was filed earlier this year. Sponsor, state Rep. Terra Costa Howard, D-Glen Ellyn, rose Friday to announce the bill isn’t ready, but said it is necessary to ensure homeschool children are protected.

“To the victims who are out there: We see you, we hear you and we will keep fighting for you,” she said.

Costa Howard said she was keeping the measure held on third leading into the Friday deadline to pass House bills to the Senate. She defended the measure, saying it does not mandate curriculum, but does require homeschool families to report to government officials that they homeschool, or they could face truancy charges.

“It truly is a simple form that can protect families from those nosey neighbors,” she said.

Homeschool parents worried about the state of Illinois imposing regulations on the practice have a reprieve after the measure failed to advance.

The fight isn’t over for opponents.

Tens of thousands of opponents filed witness slips against the measure since it was introduced earlier this year. Some Democrats spoke out against the measure, saying it could criminalize homeschool parents raising and teaching their children how they see fit.

Republican state Rep. Amy Elik said the bill was “doomed from the beginning.”

“A simple form was not so simple was it? It created burdens on families across Illinois, our entire school system,” Elik said, “and nobody seems to care that that was going to cost our schools and our families valuable resources that could be spent instead of fixing our public school system that often fails children.”

Elik said she’s glad the measure is being held, but she said the fight isn’t over for opponents.

“I can tell you our families still feel like they are under attack and walking on eggshells in Illinois,” she said. “That happens all the time in this chamber.”

The measure will be held, but could come back up in some fashion before the scheduled end of session May 31.

Legislators are off next week. The House returns April 22. The Senate returns April 29.