Children's Advocates Press Congress to Curb Child Abuse and Neglect Deaths

Children's advocates turn to Congress to curb deaths from child abuse and neglect.

Startling statistics push them to take action.

The economy gets some of the blame for the disturbing trend.

Shelley McGraw, Children's Advocacy Center, "Obviously those numbers are alarming."

Hamilton County follows a national trend that's causing concern...a growing number of victims of child abuse.

McGraw, "We actually saw a 20% increase from last year over the previous year so it is certainly something that we're seeing more of right now."

At the Children's Advocacy Center, young victims of severe physical and sexual abuse can find help.

Associate Director Shelley McGraw says the sooner help comes the better.

McGraw,  "Typically they're abused by somebody that they know and if that person can get to them often then the abuse may escalate."

That may leave them vulnerable to joining another alarming number...the victims who die.

Grundy County Sheriff Brent Myers said last October, "It had two severe bleeds on the brain, it had retinol homorganic, and it had a skull fracture."

Like the 7 week old son of Shannon Comeau who died at TC Thompsons after being shaken.

Or the one month old daughter of Nathaniel Hester who died in this Whitfield County Home.

Effie Bridges a neighbor said in August, "They seemed to be crazy about that baby."

Federal figures show 1760 children died from abuse and neglect in 2007...that's up 35 percent since 2001.

In Tennessee the number of deadly cases more than tripled and in Georgia they jumped from 48 to 61.

This week children's advocates press Congress for funding and tougher oversight...hoping to reverse those numbers.

The Recession gets the blame for cuts to child welfare programs.

McGraw says local and federal funding is vital for groups like hers.

"Funding for counseling and making sure the investigations are going like they should those are critical to make sure that the kids who are victimized are getting help right away."

Click here for a report from Every child Matters.