Neglected Cases of Child Abuse Rise In SC

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – The number of child abuse and neglect complaints in South Carolina has increased by more than 13,000 in the past three years.
Data obtained by The Greenville News shows the Department of Social Services received more than 40,000 complaints in 2015. The agency fielded just over 27,000 complaints in 2012.
DSS Director Susan Alford says centralizing where abuse allegations can be made through a toll-free telephone number and hiring more caseworkers has led to the increase in complaints.
Children’s Trust of South Carolina Executive Director Sue Williams says the state needs to get past just investigating claims and figuring out why children are neglected. She says sometimes poor parents do all they can, but just don’t have the money to fix holes in the floor.