Central Florida nonprofit see troubling increase in child abuse cases

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — A Seminole County nonprofit said it’s seeing a rise in child abuse.

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Local leaders spoke on the growing problem Thursday, as part of National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

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The Kids House revealed it saw a 16% increase in new child abuse cases in the last fiscal year.

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Central Florida nonprofit see troubling increase in child abuse cases

Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma said the isolation from the pandemic kept many cases of child abuse hidden for a long time.

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“The reduction in reports of domestic abuse, neglect and abandonment is only a reflection of not coming into contact with mandatory reporters,” Lemma said.

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The organization spoke about the increase at a garden named after Faith, a 3-year-old girl who died from child abuse in 2014.

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