Name: Pasco Kids First warns of post-holiday rise in child abuse cases
Uploaded: 2026-01-02T02:47:42.631Z
Duration: 3 min 13 s
Description: Advocates say increased family stress can put children at greater risk in the weeks after the holidays and urge awareness and early intervention.

Advocates say increased family stress can put children at greater risk in the weeks after the holidays and urge awareness and early intervention.

Pasco County

Pasco Kids First, a child advocacy organization in Pasco County, Florida, has reported a notable rise in child abuse and neglect cases following the holiday season. According to CEO Mike Tepper, the organization typically sees a 10-20% increase in reported cases in January and February, attributing this trend to heightened stressors such as financial strain, joblessness, and increased substance use during the holidays.

The group collaborates with law enforcement to support child victims and has expanded its drug prevention and trauma therapy programs. Advocates emphasize the importance of community awareness, staying connected with loved ones, and reporting suspected abuse, providing hotlines for both child abuse and domestic violence victims.

Pasco Kids First warns of post-holiday rise in child abuse cases

Good evening, everyone. Happy New Year. Welcome into Tampa Bay 28 news at 5 30. I'm Paula grown. His family's wrap up the holiday season. Child advocates are now warning of a troubling trend that often emerges in the new year. Studies show that domestic violence increases during the holiday season due to factors including financial stress, increased alcohol consumption and limited access to support services. And overnight in Plant City, we saw this. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office says one person shot their family member during an argument last night before shooting and killing themselves. So tonight, our Pasco County reporter Eric Waxler is listening to local experts who say the weeks around the holidays can bring increased stress inside homes, putting some Children at greater risk when Children are going through the most frightening time of their lives. Pasco Kids first is there. What we're really trying to do is ensure that child victims of crime receive justice on that they're taking care of because of the most fragile in our community. Pasco Kids first works with law enforcement during the investigative stage of abuse cases. Kids first says there are more than 5000 reported cases of child abuse and neglect in Pasco County each year, and CEO Mike Tepper tells me they see a 10 to 20% increase in those cases in January and February following the holiday season. It magnifies things that are already going on in the home. So maybe there's power imbalances. Maybe there are food insecurity. Maybe there's joblessness. Maybe there's other stressors that are already in the home, and the holiday time is just stressful for everyone. Advocates like Jessica Perry stress the importance of awareness and encourage adults to pay attention to warning signs during high stress periods. I would highly recommend just making sure that you're educated, staying in touch with loved ones and family members during this time of the year so that you know if if you are having a hard time experiencing higher stress levels during this time of year that you're connecting with others so that you can have a way to kind of get through those hard times because so many abuse cases are tied to drug addiction. Pasco Kids first has increased drug prevention efforts. They also teach people how to use Narcan and safely get rid of prescription medicine. They also have a trauma therapy program for Children that ends with the kids making a T shirt highlighting the message they've learned. And this one right here is really important. You know, you're not alone. And one of the things that were that really we take pride in and so important is that to make sure that victims, specifically child victims, feel that they are not alone to report abuse. You can call 1-800-96-ABUSE in Newport Ritchie on Pasco County reporter Eric Waxler, Tampa Bay 28. And if you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, help is always available. You can call the florida domestic violence hotline at any time. That number is right there on your screen. 1-800-500-1119. And a reminder, if you know any non profits in Pasco doing important work, just scan the QR code to reach out to our Pasco County reporter Eric Waxler. He's been telling your stories in Pasco for nearly 20 years now. We're always looking to spotlight local organizations that are stepping up and making a difference in our community.

Israel says more than 30 aid groups have failed to comply with new rules to register their workers and will have access to Gaza suspended. The banned organizations say the rules will have horrific consequences during deadly floods as it tries to rebuild just months into a fragile ceasefire.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Israel’s ban on dozens of aid groups from Gaza begins

A U.S. intelligence assessment has determined that Ukraine is not responsible for what Russia claims was a drone strike targeting Vladimir Putin’s residence. Both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave year-end news conferences amid continuing discussions about a peace deal held up by key unsettled issues.

Moscow

CIA rejects Russia’s claim Ukraine tried to hit Putin’s residence

Mamdani, a Democrat, was sworn in as the first Muslim leader of America's biggest city on Thursday, placing his hand on a Qur'an as he took his oath.

New York

Mayor Zohran Mamdani inaugurated at New York’s City Hall

Taiwan’s president has struck a defiant tone after China launched fresh military drills near the island. In a New Year’s Day speech, Lai Ching-te said 2026 would be a critical year and vowed to defend Taiwan’s sovereignty.

Taipei City

Taiwan president signals tougher stance on Beijing

For several years, the French government has explored ways to limit teenagers’ access to social media due to its harmful impact on mental health, and new guidance from the European Commission could now make it easier for France to pass legislation on the matter.

Paris

France proposes social media ban, following Australian model

Israel will enforce a ban on 37 international NGOs in the Gaza Strip, citing failure to meet security and transparency standards.

Israel says it 'will enforce' ban on 37 NGOs in Gaza

Zohran Mamdani became mayor of New York City just after midnight on Thursday, marking a historic moment with a low-key swearing-in ceremony held deep beneath Manhattan. The Democrat, who at 34 is the city’s youngest mayor in generations, takes office as one of the most closely watched political figures in the U.S.

Mamdani becomes New York City mayor

Dozens of people have been killed and 100 injured, most of them seriously, after a fire tore through a crowded bar during a New Year's Eve party in the upscale ski resort of Crans-Montana, Swiss officials said.

Crans-Montana

Dozens killed, 100 injured in fire in Swiss ski resort bar

President Donald Trump said his administration was removing the National Guard from Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, but he added in his social media post that federal forces will "come back" if crime rates go up.

Chicago

Trump: National Guard being removed from Chicago, LA and Portland

Finnish police have seized a cargo ship suspected of sabotaging an undersea telecom cable between Helsinki and Estonia on December 31. Authorities say the vessel was sailing from Russia to Israel when it was intercepted in the Gulf of Finland.

Helsinki

Finland seizes Russia-linked ship over suspected cable sabotage

Russia's defense ministry released video footage on Wednesday (December 31) of what it said was a downed drone at a briefing intended to show Ukraine tried this week to attack a presidential residence and challenge Kyiv's denials that such an attack took place.

Russia releases video footage to challenge Kyiv over alleged attack

Severe humanitarian needs in Gaza are worsening as dozens of aid groups are forced to halt operations under new Israeli restrictions.
Up to 48 organizations have stopped work, leaving fewer clinics, food distributions and shelters for civilians.

Israel to block dozens of aid groups working in war-battered Gaza

The world has begun saying goodbye to 2025, with South Pacific nations first to welcome 2026.

Council of the City of Sydney

Fireworks light up the globe as nations ring in 2026

CNN, citing sources, reported that the CIA had carried out a drone strike earlier this month on a port facility on the coast of Venezuela. U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. struck a facility where boats accused of carrying drugs "load up."

Caracas

Trump says U.S. strike hit dock in Venezuela

President Trump says the U.S. "knocked out" a "big facility" last week linked to alleged drug boat operations. Unlike previous operations at sea, this strike occurred on Venezuelan territory, though the president did not disclose specific details about the timing, location, or the party responsible for the attack.

Washington

Trump says U.S. launched strike on boat dock inside Venezuela

Tatiana Schlossberg, the granddaughter of President John F. Kennedy and an environmental journalist, has died at the age of 35 following a battle with cancer, the JFK Library Foundation announced Tuesday.

Tatiana Schlossberg, JFK's granddaughter, dies at 35

The United Arab Emirates says it's withdrawing its remaining forces from Yemen. The move comes after Saudi Arabia bombed a port in Yemen, saying it targeted an arms shipment intended for a UAE-backed separatist force.

Al Mukalla

Saudi Arabia bombs port in Yemen

In an overnight strike, the Saudi military hit a Yemeni port saying they were neutralising a weapons shipments arriving from UAE. The UAE has denied the shipment contained weapons and claimed the vehicles were not intended for any groups. Both countries have supported the fighting sides in the over-decade long war in Yemen, but this strike has turned this rivalry into an open dispute.

The UAE denies shipping weapons to Yemen after overnight Saudi strike

The Kremlin said Tuesday it would toughen its negotiating position in talks on ending the war in Ukraine after accusing Kyiv of attacking a Russian presidential residence — an allegation that Kyiv said was baseless and intended to prolong the conflict.

Russia will toughen negotiating stance on war in Ukraine

China fired rockets into waters off northern and southern Taiwan on Tuesday (December 30) and deployed new amphibious assault ships alongside bomber aircraft and destroyers on the second day of its most extensive war games.

China fires rockets towards Taiwan in war games simulating blockade

President Donald Trump on Monday confirmed an alleged drug-related site was targeted during a recent strike, saying, "they load the boats up with drugs, so we hit all the boats and now we hit the area." Trump did not say when the strike happened or exactly where.

U.S. strike hits Venezuelan port facility

The search for Malaysia Airlines flight 370 that went missing in 2014 with 239 people on board is expected to resume Tuesday (December 30). The Malaysian government and a private marine robotics company say they will use advances in technology to aid in the search.

Kuala Lumpur

Search resumes for Malaysia Airlines flight that disappeared in 2014

The two countries have agreed to hold fire, freeze troop movements and allow civilians to return home under a new agreement.

Krong Poi Pet

Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire holds as 72-hour observation period ends

Head of Yemen's presidential council, which is supported by Saudi Arabia, says UAE-backed forces in the country should leave within 24 hours.

Yemen’s presidential council cancels UAE defence deal

U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States could support another major strike on Iran were it to resume rebuilding its ballistic missile or nuclear weapons programs and warned Hamas of severe consequences if it does not disarm.

Florida

Trump warns Iran of possible strike, urges Hamas to disarm

U.S. hit an area in Venezuela where boats are loaded with drugs, Trump says, as Pentagon carries out another deadly strike in the Pacific. This claim follows a series of U.S. strikes on boats in the Eastern Pacific, raising the total number of known strikes to 31 and resulting in over 100 deaths.

Trump claims attack on a dock in Venezuela, strikes kill two in Pacific

The Taiwanese government says it has placed its forces on alert as China intensifies its military presence in the Indo-Pacific Ocean and launches air, navy and rocket drills around the island.

Taiwan's forces on alert as China launches military drills

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is denying Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s claim that Ukraine tried to attack President Vladimir Putin's residence in northern Russia.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Zelenskyy denies Russian claim that Ukraine targeted Putin’s residence

President Trump said after a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Hamas must disarm soon or "there will be hell to pay." He said the next phase of the Gaza peace plan could move forward quickly if Hamas disarms.

Trump warns "hell to pay" if Hamas doesn't disarm

CBC’s Kris Reyes highlights the biggest AI advancements in 2025 along with the continued calls to establish clear boundaries in an effort to prevent misuse.

Breakdown