Thousands of children in Michigan are abused or neglected every year, but funding for programs aimed at preventing that abuse is tight.
"Every child deserves our protection," said Wendy Gonzalez, Executive Director of the Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect.
The Jackson non-profit is focused on protecting children before a problem ever happens, but getting funding for those services isn't always easy.
"Unfortunately it is a big thing we need to always find support from the community," Gonzalez said.
The council relies on grants and donations. It then runs multiple workshops, including ones for parents aimed at giving them the tools to properly take care of their children.
"There's a lot of risk factors associated with child abuse and neglect and poverty is one of the main problems," Gonzalez explained. "We know here in Jackson County almost a quarter of our kids live in poverty."
There were 23,813 confirmed cases of child abuse or neglect in Michigan last year and 74 children died because of that abuse.
"There is no need for any child to suffer from abuse or neglect," said Erica Quealy, a spokeswoman for the State Department of Health and Human Services.
Quealy says it also takes education and people who are willing to speak up.
"We rely heavily on people to make those calls," Quealy said. "If you notice bruises or bite marks, or a child seems regularly hungry or poor hygiene, those are indicators to look for and reasons to make a call."
Steps Gonzalez says can go a long way to preventing abuse.
"It takes a community to end child abuse and neglect," she added. "Everybody has something that they can offer--mentor a child, help a neighbor."
