‘I know it’s a downer’: Justice Center director gives report on child abuse in Washington County

ST. GEORGE — The director of the Washington County Children’s Justice Center saw an increase in interviews related to child abuse in 2021, according to a report given by the center’s director Tuesday.

Kristy Pike, director of the Washington County Children’s Justice Center, speaks to the Washington County Commission, St. George, Utah, March 15, 2022 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

Kristy Pike, the center’s director, noted that while the report was a “downer,” it did not necessarily mean more children were being abused. Rather, she said, it is an indication that more children and families are getting the help they need.

“We’re talking about children who have been abused,” Pike told the Washington County Commission during a meeting Tuesday. “I know it’s a downer. I know it is not your favorite presentation, but the good news is there are kids who are getting services and families who are getting help.”

The Children’s Justice Center provides a place where children who have experienced abuse of any sort can be interviewed in an environment geared to feel more inviting and open than a police station. Once inside, the child meets with a forensic interviewer during a session that is also recorded and watched by law enforcement and others in another room. From there the child is referred to medical and mental health services as deemed necessary.

Other services the nonprofit center offers include victim advocacy, preparing protective orders and helping the children and their families find aid in various ways.

Each March and August, Pike comes before the County Commission to share statistics concerning the center’s work over the previous six months. The March report generally entails an overall look at the previous calendar year.

A slide from a presentation of 2022 statistics from the Washington County Children’s Justice Center | Image courtesy of Washington County / CEC, St. George News

2021 highlights include the following:

  • The CJC served 401 primary victims of child abuse | 502 in 2020.
  • Performed 334 interviews | 302 in 2020.
  • Completed 135 medical exams | 145 in 2020.
  • Completed 154 traumatic stress screenings with an average score of 20.9 – anything over 20 is considered high, Pike said. These screening test for possible cases of PTSD and suicidality | 184 screenings were conducted in 2020.
  • 990 hours of hours of mental health therapy was also provided.

From the 401 primary victims seen by the center in 2021, the majority (311 or 78%) involved allegations related to child sex abuse and assault.

Coming in second were 114 (28%) allegations of domestic and family abuse, with an additional 72 cases (18%) involving child physical abuse.

A slide from a presentation of 2022 statistics from the Washington County Children’s Justice Center | Image courtesy of Washington County / CEC, St. George News

Pike said the allegation numbers did not mean 401 children visited the CJC but that they might have experienced multiple types of abuse. She also said the center deals with other types of abuse but listed the type the center staff encounter the most over the last year.

Of the cases the center dealt with last year, 68% were female and 102 were younger than 7 years old.

Additional statistics gave a look at the suspects involved in child abuse cases reported in 2021.

This included a total of 342 suspects that were further broken down within their individual demographics.

  • 121 of 267 (45%) suspects were juveniles.
  • 87 of 251 (35%) suspects were parents, step-parents or foster parents of the victim.
  • 145 of 251 (58%) suspect were relatives of the victim.
  • 132 of 273 (48%) suspects shared a home with the victim.
  • 305 of 342 (89%) suspects were male.
A slide from a presentation of 2022 statistics from the Washington County Children’s Justice Center | Image courtesy of Washington County / CEC, St. George News

The biannual reports the center gives the County Commission are a requirement of the Victim of Crime Act grants that tend to fund up to half of the nonprofit’s annual budget. The last VOCA grant the center received only accounted for 38% of the budget for 2021 versus the 55% it received in 2019.

The latest grant has funded the position of a new mental health services coordinator, a part of the victim services coordinator position, a part-time victims advocate and most of the center’s mental health services.

An additional grant from the Cambia Health Foundation has been used to hire a new therapist who is dedicated to seeing children in the rural parts of the county like Hildale and Enterprise.

The center also expanded its ability to conduct interviews onsite with the addition of two new therapy rooms converted from the building’s garage. They began to see use in January.

Studies have shown that children are seven times more likely to access mental health care if it is co-located in an advocacy center like the Children’s Justice Center, Pike said.

“We’re hoping that means a lot more help for a lot more kids,” she said.

2019 file photo for illustrative purposes only of the Washington County Children’s Justice Center, St. George, Utah, Sept. 3, 2019 | File photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

The center also contracts with therapists able to meet with children at their schools, as well as individual therapists in general.

Along with the therapists, the center works with a multidisciplinary team that includes lawyers, law enforcement, medical personnel, victims advocates and others.

“It’s hard work, but it is an honor to stand in the crossroads of crisis for kids and families who have been victims of crime,” Pike said.

As for what people can do to help, Pike said they can and should report potential cases of child abuse they encounter. Moreover, such action is required under Utah law. Aside from that, adults need to be worthy of a child’s trust. That way, if that child is abused, they’ll feel safe about approaching the adult with their problem, she said.

“When I talk to kids, I tell them, ‘Please, if something happens that concerns you that doesn’t feel right, please talk to a trustworthy adult. An adult that’ll do the right thing every time,” Pike said.

For those who believe they or someone they know needs the help of the Washington County Children’s Justice Center, call 435-634-1134, visit the center’s website or call Utah’s 24-hour child abuse reporting hotline: 1-855-323-3237.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

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