Our Children are Vulnerable

• Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties are among the highest in Florida for the most reported and confirmed cases of child abuse and neglect.
• Each day in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties, an average of 88 hotline calls are made to report cases of child abuse and neglect. Half of those calls are for children 5 years and younger.
• An average of 25,000 babies are born annually in our Tampa Bay service areas, contributing to the total population of 126,000 for children under 5 years old. On average, half of those children are not ready to enter kindergarten.

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.