Stay-at-home order having ‘big impact’ on child abuse

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The stay-at-home order meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus may also be putting more children within reach of predators.

The executive director of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Kent County said her office is working as hard as ever during the Stay Home, Stay Safe order issued by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

“Big impact… We’re busy here actually, which is not so great,” Melissa Werkman, the CAC’s executive director, told News 8. “Our numbers over the last couple of weeks are really showing that there is a significantly higher risk for kids.”

The CAC reports taking in three or four new cases of sexual abuse each day. 

Werkman said she believes children spending more time at home andusing technology to communicateplaces them at higher risk of being sexually abused. Additionally, she pointed out that parents have been forced to find creative solutions for child care and it’s likely that some children are being placed in less-than-ideal situations.

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