New 12 First at Five, April 15, 2009

EDGEFIELD CTY, S.C. --- South Carolina has been chopping millions from its budget for months, and now they're cutting from two of the state's biggest advocates against child abuse.

Child abuse has been a growing problem in South Carolina for years. So much that it's even taken the lives of those who can't speak for themselves.

"It's a worse case scenario. It's what happens when people fail to report child abuse," said Deputy Gladys Mason.

Edgefield Sheriff's victim advocate Gladys Mason says child abuse is something she's dealing with far too often. She was part of a vigil on Wednesday to help shed light on the problem.

"Child abuse isn't always going to be visible, it's not going to always be a bruise that you can see," said Dep. Mason.

But two of the state's largest child advocates have seen big budget cutbacks. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) lost $137 million, that's about 15 percent of their budget. And the Department of Social Services (DSS)lost about $63 million from their budget.

"Right now, our biggest problem throughout the state is we need volunteers to help represent these kids so their cases don't have to be turned down,"said Donna Lackey of the Edgefield/McCormick Guardian Ad Litem.

She says they're desperately seeking help in these hard times.

"I believe it's very important for not only Edgefield county but the rest of the counties throughout the state to bring child abuse to the surface,"said Lackey.

And with more abuse pictures showing up, Edgefield county's reaching out to stop it.

"Now that we're facing hard economic times, financial stress and strain, people are taking that out on their children and if we don't do something now, it's just going to get worse and worse. We're going to have another death of a child that was for nothing,"said Dep. Mason.

The Guardian Ad Litem is a service offered through DSS. The Aiken County branch shows they served 338 children as of June of 2008.

DHHS says they will still offer their services, but it will be at a smaller capacity than before. DSS says they're hoping volunteers like the Guardian ad Litem will help with their shortfall.