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Opinion: Child abuse and neglect must be treated as a public health issue

Toys left by neighbors for the Turpins' children sit on the front of the home of David and Louise Turpin in Perris, Calif., on Jan. 24, 2018. The Turpins are accused of abusing their 13 children, ranging from 2 to 29, before they were rescued on Jan. 14 from their home in Perris.

An estimated 1 in 4 experience some form of child abuse or neglect in their lifetimes. This type of unimaginable trauma contributes to depression, problems at school, violence, diabetes, obesity, substance abuse, and suicide. To significantly reduce child abuse or neglect, we must begin treating them right away as serious public health problems by expanding public and private sector funding for research, training, and prevention.

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