A new report from Orange County's Social Services Agency reveals concerning trends in child welfare, including a significant increase in infants exposed to substances during pregnancy, rising mental health issues among youth, and a substantial spike in childcare costs.
Claire Hise of Orange County , California, has had trouble securing a consistent therapist during the pandemic for her younger son’s autism treatment. ‘It’s really a year I feel we’ve lost,’ says Hise, who declined to share her son’s name so that he can be the one to decide when and how to share his diagnosis.The number of referrals to Orange County 's social services agency for infants who were exposed to substances during pregnancy increased by more than 55% from 2014 to 2023.
That's according to a report the county's Social Services Agency released earlier this month that also found substantial increases in youth mental health struggles and a spike in the cost of childcare over recent years in the county.Kristina Uban, an associate professor at UC Irvine who serves on Orange County's Family Wellness Plan committee, attributed the rise in part to the increased potency of drugs and alcohol over the past decade. She also said it was likely a result of efforts by Orange County organizations to train medical professionals on substance use during pregnancy.The report found that nearly 15% of Orange County children were living in poverty — a higher number than the U.S. Census Bureau's estimate of around 11%. The study also found that over the past ten years or so, the cost of licensed childcare centers for infants in Orange County increased from $270 a week to $380 a week.The report also found that students in Orange County were more likely to experience feelings of hopelessness and depression in recent years. Among lesbian, gay and bisexual youth, those numbers are worse.The report also found significant progress, including a drop in the number of young children who were without health insurance and an increase in child immunizations.
CHILD WELFARE MENTAL HEALTH SUBSTANCE ABUSE CHILDCARE COSTS ORANGE COUNTY
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