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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 12, 2018)
COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL • SEPTEMBER 12, 2018 • Child abuse rates hard to pin down By Caitlyn May cmay@cgsentinel.com We know that between October 2016 and Septem- ber 2017, the state of Ore- gon received 80,683 reports of child abuse or neglect. We know that just over 40,000 of those reports were re- ferred for investigation and 32,075 investigations were completed. We know that 7,063 of those investigations yielded founded complaints of abuse, accounting for 11,000 victims. We know that 45 percent of those vic- tims were younger than six years old. We know that 46.7 percent of those families had alcohol or drug use as the largest family stress factor in cases abuse was present and that domestic violence accounted for 29. 5 percent. What we don’t know is the accurate rate of child abuse and neglect to confidently say it can be reduced by 90 percent by the year 2030. 90by30 has been work- ing toward this goal since 2011 and hopes to continue to work to decrease the in- stances of child abuse and neglect through community partnerships and engage- ment. However, it may be impossible to definitively claim a reduction of 90 per- cent since the group did not begin with a set rate of child abuse and neglect around the county. “There’s no community in the country who can an- swer that,” said Jeff Todahl, co-director and director of research for the prevention of abuse and neglect. While 90by30 may not be able to accurately claim a reduction of 90 percent by 2030, it is working to obtain a rate of child abuse and ne- glect; a task marred by the nature of the topic. “I think it’s the social norm that we don’t really talk about this and that if we ask about it, it’s an inva- sion of privacy,” Todahl said. “Also, people feel nervous about it. It’s hard to turn to- ward something as sensitive as abuse and neglect and worry that it will traumatize youth if you ask them.” The majority of the data collected by the state, in- cluding the report released annually entitled, “Child Welfare Data Book,” comes from mandatory reporters such as doctors and teach- ers. However, according to Todahl, those numbers don’t always tell the entire truth. For example, rates of child abuse and neglect may dip from one year to the next but if school days are cut from the calendar, a common practice as school districts face budget cuts, then mandatory reporters have less interaction with children who may be facing abuse and neglect. 90by30, however, is hop- ing to collect more data to paint a more accurate pic- ture of the situation. Four years ago, the group con- ducted a survey; given the definition of child abuse or neglect, residents were asked if they had experi- enced it in their own child- hood. Thirty-seven percent said they had. The group also has plans to go into the schools around the county and ask students a series of ques- tions. And while the state conducts a survey of class- rooms as well to compile data for its Healthy Teen Survey, Todahl says this survey is different, focusing specifically on questions about abuse and neglect, more specifically, about 170 of them. The data will then be used to help combat abuse and neglect throughout the county utilizing community partners and programs such as the organization’s baby box program. New parents are given a box full of new- born essentials, including information that can lead to understanding rather than frustration. The goal, 90by30’s Rachel Nordquist told The Sentinel previously, was to create a safe sleep sys- tem, prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and create a connection to the commu- nity for new parents. The baby box is part of the fundamental programs issued by 90by30 in taking data and providing resourc- es for parents or community members to reduce rates of abuse. In addressing statis- tics surrounding the most common timeframe for shaken baby syndrome cas- es, the baby box includes in- formation on crying infants and reassures parents. “The importance of the work that’s happening in South Lane, from pinwheels in April to so many people knitting hats for the baby box, it goes on and on,” Todahl said. "Cottage Grove is leading the county which means they’re leading at the national level in many ways. We have people watching, asking if this place can fig- ure out a way to significantly reduce child abuse.” 5A Pet tips ‘N’ tales By Mary Ellen “Angel Scribe” Our ‘Missing’ Freeway Goats S adly, it is an end to an era for families who love count- ing the Sears Road rock quarry’s goats. After 40 years, the famous freeway-hill climbers were re-homed to keep them alive. The eight animals are with experienced goat herder Michelle, happily mingling and munching with their new goat family on her fenced 50-acre ranch. Boy, have they moved up in the world! The ranch’s amenities include fresh running water, trees, hills and their favorite snack, of course, blackberries. The blackberries were their downfall. After consuming all the berries near the rock quarry, the herd smelled the delicious aroma of more on the other side of the freeway. Being adventuresome and hungry goats, they strolled through a hole in the fence, and began eating the blackber- ries beside I-5 freeway stopping 70-mph traffic. The depart- ment of transportation arrived and erected a GOATS ON HIGHWAY reader board sign to warn drivers. After the police were summoned for the third time in a week, they phoned the quarry with an ultimatum: “The goats are en- dangering traffic. The next time they are on the interstate they will be dispatched.” This statement began a desperate hunt to find the famous bearded-quarry squatters a new home. Tina Fornoff, a.k.a. Fornoff Rocks, LLC., posted a note to Facebook’s “What’s Going On In Cottage Grove, Oregon” relating the urgency of the situation. “Then the circus began!” said Tina. “An hour later, 15 people arrived with trailers trying to round up goats. It was mayhem. Eventually, the goats outsmarted everyone by climbing the steep hillside.” Tine went on toi explain how, the next day, she tried cor- ralling the herd into a hastily-rigged pen. “What a fiasco! The goats kept breaking through, tearing Classes offered to become Master Recycler Performing All Phases of Automotive Repair Specializing In Ford, GM, and Dodge Diesels. Now fabricating the perfect exhaust systems and carrying the biggest brands in the industry! 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Information about the transit agency, including information in non-English alternative formats, may be obtained by calling 541-942-0456 or rlinoz@southlanewheels.com Where, oh where, have our freeway goats gone? down — or jumping over — the pen,” said Tina. “I sat for six hours bribing them to return to their favorite foods but to no avail.” Just as the quarry was closing and after she‘d left, the goats arrived for their smorgasbord of alfalfa and veggies, so Tina rushed back. Fortunately, the rock-pit crew had corralled the herd. The crew each grabbed a goat directing them into the trailer. “It was a joke thinking that once one was in the trailer the others would follow,” said Tina. “The goats had never been in a trailer and they did not think it was time to start now.” After the young kids were loaded up, their mothers fol- lowed. Dozer saw this and jumped over the four foot panels onto a conveyor belt system, chased a few people around, and then took off up the hillside. Everyone scattered trying to avoid the 500 pound horned leader! “There was no way for us to scale the hillside and grab him. For the next week, he remained elusive looking at us like we were circus clowns,” Tina said. “We finally outsmart- ed him by tempting him with a ‘new‘ girlfriend. Our she- lure worked! He could not resist meeting her. We slammed the gate closed and delivered him to his waiting herd.” "Dozer casually walked over to his old herd,” said Michelle. “He was friendly and gentle with all of our other goats. He was a gentleman and let some goats cut in front of him to eat first. This was unlike his pit behavior where he insisted on eating first. I am happy to report that your freeway goats are very happy here.” Tina added that, “A 90-pound cougar is visiting the quar- ry, so the timing of the goat's removal is perfect. Drivers along I-5 freeway who have been watching them need to know that ‘your’ goats are safe and so are you. You can't have a herd of animals meandering across a freeway amongst speeding semi-trucks and family cars without an ’OH! OH!’ We hope they will now live a long life.” Tips: Please do not bring goats to the Sears rock pit quarry. The cougar is not their friend! Share your fun, amazing or crazing pet tips and tales at angelscribe@msn.com or Follow Pet Tips ‘n’ Tales on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PetTipsandTales. Adopt loving pets online at www.PetFinder.com. For spay or neutering, call the Humane Society at 541-942-2789.