Comparison of the 2011 state Department of Public Welfare report with the recently-released 2012 document has shown an unprecedented increase in cases statewide, but those numbers are inconsistent in the Lehigh Valley.

Whereas the state average indicates a 9 percent increase in suspected cases, Lehigh County saw an increase of about 25 percent and Northampron only about 5 percent.

Suspected increases, however, do not make for substantiated cases that are seeing active pursuit. Those numbers have decreased in both counties.

Northampton County Director of Human Services Ross Marcus said in the big picture, the numbers are statistically meaningful but ultimately unhelpful where the children themselves are concerned.

"When a child is abused it can hurt that child for his or her entire life," Marcus said. "Not to devalue the data, but we don't just look at the numbers, we look at what's happening in the community."

Marcus said educating the public is important, but what's just as important is people overcoming their reluctance to get involved when they believe something is wrong. "We have a tendancy to close our eyes to it because we know our neighbor and they're good people. We have to get people to say, 'yes, good people do horrible things, too.'"

Marcus said his office, the police and district attorney work together to investigate instances of abuse, but neighbors and communuty members must participate as well.