Mary Alice Reporting – A local non-profit has released the number of children they served related to cases of abuse within Tuscarawas County.
Noah’s Hope Child Advocacy Center receives referrals to interview a child and in 2022, the New Philadelphia-based operation saw 158 youth.
Executive Director Mandy Willett says this is their highest number with the breakdown being 128 females and 30 males.
“The age ranges from zero to five were 36 children, ages six to 12 was 74 children, 13 to 17 was 46, and 18 plus was two.”
She notes that while they never want to be called to conduct an interview where abuse has occurred, the increased number does mean more is being reported and investigated.
“In all 158 cases, the perpetrator was known in some way to the family whether it be a cousin, grandparents we saw a lot of this year, and either biological, a step-parent, a person filling that parental role as perpetrators as well.”
Over the past few years, the number of children seen at Noah’s Hope has risen with 152 served in 2021, compared to 119 in 2020 and 78 assisted in 2019.
For more information on the organization, visit www.noahshopecac.org.
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