Colorado received record-breaking number of child abuse reports in 2017

The state of Colorado received a record-breaking number of calls to its child abuse and neglect hotline in 2017, data shows. 

Coloradans made 211,554 calls to the hotline throughout the year — an average of nearly 580 calls each day. The number increased from 206,107 calls in 2016, according to a news release by the Colorado Department of Human Services.

Department officials launched the Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline in January 2015 as a resource for residents to learn the warning signs and report child abuse and neglect.

"If you are worried about a child or teenager in your neighborhood, at your church or in school, don’t hesitate to call 1-844-CO-4-KIDS," said Minna Castillo-Cohen, director of the Office of Children, Youth and Families at CDHS, in the news release. "Even if you aren’t sure, making that phone call is one of the best ways you can help a kid in Colorado."

More:At risk: Child abuse in Larimer County

Last year, for the first time, officials used the hotline to track calls about child sex trafficking. The department reported 307 potential cases of child sex trafficking.

Child sex trafficking, a recognized form of child abuse or neglect, is the commercial sexual exploitation of children, according to the news release. Officials said traffickers sometimes identify and groom children. Other times, traffickers are people children know, such as their parents, caregivers or "friends" they meet online.

For more information about additional warning signs of child abuse, neglect and child sex trafficking, visit CO4KIDS.org. To report suspicious situations, call 1-844-CO-4-KIDS (1-844-264-5437). If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.

Possible indicators of sex trafficking

• The child or teen has money or other material items, such as a cell phone, they cannot explain.
• The child or teen has tattoos or scars they are hesitant to or unable to explain.
• The child or teen experiences “stomach aches” or difficulty sitting or standing.
• The child or teen posts sexually explicit material or images online.
• The child or teen discusses participation in a sexual act in exchange for shelter, transportation, drugs, alcohol, money or other items of value.
• The child or teen is accompanied by an overly controlling "friend," "partner" or "boss."

Source: Colorado Department of Human Services