Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 17, 1991                   TAG: 9104170481
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-2   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

CHILD ABUSE CASES ROSE 4% IN 1990

More than 1,200 children died from abuse-related incidents, slightly more than in 1989, according to a study by the National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse.

Though small, the rise in reports represents a "steady and ever-marching increase" that is the result of more public awareness, and therefore more reporting, as well as an actual increase in abuse, said Deborah Daro, study director.

More money is needed to finance child-welfare programs, provide prevention services to parents and provide protective services to children, she said.

"The resources we put into this are simply not enough," she said.

The group surveyed child-welfare officials in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, counting a total of 2.5 million for last year, a 4 percent increase from 1989.

Also last year, 1,211 children died as a result of abuse or neglect, compared with 1,203 the previous year.

One in three of the officials contacted said expanded reporting was responsible for at least part of any increase their state saw. Most said some of the rise was also due to more cases of abuse, and more than half said substance abuse was a primary cause for the increase.