Schools spotlight child abuse

DOVER - Every August as students return to school, some also bring with them signs of abuse that teachers, school nurses, law enforcement officers and other attentive adults can spot and report, according to the state's Division of Family Services (DFS) of the Delaware Children's Department.Reports of abuse peak just as classes commence because in school, children are "exposed to a greater number of people on a daily basis," according to Linda Shannon, program manager for intake and investigation for the department.Such ongoing exposure, she said, can often make injuries and changes in behavior more obvious.Law enforcement agencies identify the most instances of child abuse in the state, with teachers and school nurses reporting the second highest number of incidents. But Ms. Shannon said anyone who suspects a child is being abused can also take steps to rectify the situation.Last year, the DFS received 7,548 reports of abuse and neglect statewide and investigated 5,829 of those reports.

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