Our Children are Vulnerable

• Hillsborough County is the highest in Florida for the most reported and confirmed cases of child abuse and neglect.
• Each day in Hillsborough County, four children will be removed from their family homes due to child abuse and neglect, and half of those children will be under 5 years old.
• With 17,000 babies born each year, our county is the 7th largest school district in the nation. Less than 50% of those babies enter Kindergarten ready to learn.

Once it occurs, the impact of child abuse and neglect extends far beyond childhood. Children who suffer repeated abuse and neglect are at a dramatically greater risk for:

• Academic failure
• Criminality
• Psychological disorders
• Poor physical health
• Impaired socioemotional development
• Substance abuse

They can also lose up to 20 years of life expectancy and are three times more likely to continue the cycle of abuse later in life.

By intervening early, Champions is working to prevent abuse and neglect before they even happen.

Children need an environment that is both safe and nurturing in order to thrive. Research shows children with low levels of one-on-one interaction fall measurably behind by 18 months. Further, those who do not receive support in early learning skills at home are often not ready for kindergarten, and their poor school performance continues with them. Ultimately, this affects high school graduation rates and their ability to be productive in the workforce.

When children develop to their highest potential, the community benefits from improved economic, civic, and health outcomes. By giving parents the tools to not only keep their children safe but support their healthy development, our entire community will build stronger families with thriving children.