FLORIDA - Florida's struggling economy could be to blame for an increase in calls to the state's Abuse Hotline.

About 12-hundred people call the hotline every day.

That's up 300 calls from last year.

And as Channel Three's Whitney Ray tells us, three out of every four calls requires special attention from a case worker.

For every councilor working at Florida's Abuse Hotline, a ringing phone represents a life in turmoil or a child in danger.

"Any marks bruises, injuries?"

Councilors are working to keep up with a skyrocketing number of calls.

"Did he hit you?"

Secretary of the Department of Children and Families George Sheldon says financial stress is contributing to the increased call load.

George Sheldon / DCF Secretary
"This is a tough time for folks, they're uneasy, they're losing their jobs. They're trying to figure out how to take care of their family. Too many times they turn to alcohol or substance abuse."

Whitney Ray / Reporter
"Councilors say the hardest calls they get are from children, especially when the kid's life is in danger. Those calls get immediate attention."

Juanita Belcher says some calls are hard to get over.

Juanita Belcher / Hotline Councilor
"A couple of weeks ago I had an injured baby, abused by a step father. It had cigarette burns. That stayed with me."

Jamie Valdes has been counseling victims for eight years. He keeps pictures of his children on his desk for inspiration.

Jamie Valdes / Hotline Councilor
"The calls that we take sometimes are really bad, some of them are awful. Having these pictures are my sanity. It's knowing that there's love out there."

And for some the help they need is a phone call away.

Calls to the Abuse Hotline have risen at about the same rate as requests for food stamps.

Call are up about 25 percent for the Abuse Hotline. 23 percent, for Food Stamps. Florida Abuse Hotline Gets Abnormal Volume Of Calls