LAS VEGAS -- A new study finds children under a year old are among the most abused in the nation. To make matters worse, Nevada is fourth in the country when it comes to the rate of children being removed from abusive homes.
National experts want a new national campaign to raise awareness.
But some local child advocates say there are already several national campaigns and creating another one could hurt the cause.
A report released Monday in journal Pediatrics found serious abuse to infants has become a bigger issue than Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
"I think, as in all things, there's no one magic treatment to help prevent child abuse, I think it's a combination of a couple of things which is why it's such a hard issue to tackle," said Amanda Haboush, UNLV Institute for Children's Research and Policy.
She says education is the one of the ways to prevent abuse and even death.
"Every single person should be educated how to look for signs of child abuse and neglect," Haboush said. She encourages people who suspect child abuse to call authorities and report it.
She believes adding a new national campaign, in addition to the ones that already exist, could send a mixed message.
She says understanding what factors lead to child abuse and educating parents before abuse happens would be more effective. She said parents who are under a lot of stress may take their frustration out on their children.
"It's heartbreaking for anyone to experience," said Jennifer Erbes, a foster care supervisor with Maple Star Nevada.
She has worked in foster care for more than 10 years.
She says there are several reasons there are so many cases of abuse in Nevada.
"It's a transient town which causes a lot of unusual circumstances for families. These families come here and they don't have the extended family they may have in other states," Erbes.
She says the economy and cuts to social services are also major factors.
