Child Abuse Cases Surge Dramatically During COVID

Jessica Miller and Sophia Herron from Shreveport's Gingerbread House talk about National Child Prevention Month and how folks across the ArkLaTex can help.

The Gingerbread House is a children's advocacy center." says Gingerbread CEO Miller, "We conduct all of the forensic interviews of child (abuse) victims ages 2 to 17. As soon as a child makes a disclosure, they're brought to the Gingerbread House, law enforcement comes, child protection comes. We talk to the child one-on-one. We record it so it can be used for criminal prosecution."

Miller continues, emphasizing the near epidemic numbers of abuse in the area. "Most people think this happens elsewhere, but the reality is that here in northwest Louisiana we are working with 65 newly identified child victims every month."

"We have this big misconception that predators are only the stranger in the corner," adds Herron, the Director of Community Relations and a former forensic interviewer, "But in reality, most children are abused by someone that they know and trust...over 90% of the time."

"The number one need that is ongoing, especially now during the pandemic, is financial support for the organization," says Herron, "All of the services we offer are offered are free of charge so that no child is ever turned away, regardless of the family's ability to pay."

For more information about Gingerbread House and the important work it does or to make a donation, JUST CLICK HERE!