Three million cases of child abuse are reported each year across the U.S., but experts estimate the actual number of incidents involving abuse and neglect is three times higher than reported. It's a problem that's on the rise in parts of the Arklatex.
In January 2008, Satonia Small left her two small children home alone while she went clubbing. Their Shreveport apartment caught fire and She'je'berne Small, 6, died in the fire. Her 7-year-old brother jumped out a window to escape. Reports show a year earlier, a neighbor called authorities saying the children were home alone playing outside playing in 30-degree temperatures with not enough clothes on. When police checked their home out, they described it as filthy, with roaches running everywhere.
The children were initially placed in foster care. They were later returned to their mother after she worked with social workers to improve the situation at home. CPS officials say Small did what case workers ordered her to do to get her children back.
Cases like this have put northwest Louisiana at the top of the state's list when it comes to child abuse and neglect cases.
Marketa Gautreau is with the Department of Social Services. She says about 3,000 cases of abuse were investigated here in 2007. That's the highest number of child abuse cases in the state. She says the outrageous statistic is due to drug abuse and the population shift after Hurricane Katrina.
Following Hurricane Katrina, Department of Social Services started intensive home-based services. That's when a team of therapists come into a home and address a problem right then and there. Officials say the program has been a huge success.
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