COVID Child Abuse Update for July - August 2020
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Almost every school building in the country is closed
Fewer than half of students are participating in online learning in some schools,
The reporting of child abuse is dropping by as much as 70% since schools shut their doors.
Between March and April almost 90% of children entering Children’s Hospital in Washington DC had to be hospitalized because of injuries suggesting child abuse (compared to 50% in the same period prior year).
A majority of Americans are not reporting parental child abuse (only 19% say they are “very Likely” to report and only 36% would report if it were a stranger doing the same thing.
Abused children have no voice in the homes they live in, the media or the State House. It’s up to others to speak for and support them that they may lead normal lives.
It will take care and compassion from those of us able to provide support at risk children and families if we are to save these children from becoming dysfunctional and too often dangerous adults.
Talk about this with family & friends – urge them to contact your legislators with this message:
An estimated 50% of maltreated children aren’t being identified because mandated reporters aren’t seeing them. Other states are addressing this issue as part of their COVID-19 plan. We urge you to do the same.
The following articles gathered from around the nation point to a trend of more child abuse, under-reporting and growing problems with law enforcement responding to and dealing with domestic violence.
| Child abuse reports down amid coronavirus pandemicFox BaltimoreRosenberg is the Vice President of Violence Intervention and Prevention at LifeBridge Health and the Executive Director at Baltimore Child Abuse … Flag as irrelevant |
| Drug Abuse on the Rise Because of COVID-19EHS TodayThe Coronavirus pandemic is bad enough, but reports have surfaced about a resurgence in opioid use in the wake of widespread unemployment and … Flag as irrelevant |
| Number of child abuse reports drop amidst COVID-19, virtual learningFairfaxtimes.comReports of alleged child abuse and neglect began to drop significantly starting in March of this year once the spread of COVID-19 instigated a massive … Flag as irrelevant |
| Child Abuse Victims Have Been Forgotten in the NJ State Proposed BudgetTAPinto.netDuring Covid19, child victims have been suffering in silence, forced to isolate with their abusers, without access to the trusted adults they normally … Flag as irrelevant |
| CASA of Travis County overcoming COVID-19 pandemic challenges to help childrenKVUE.comWhile the number of calls dropped, the reports of child abuse were more severe, according to Wolf. “Those cases that did come in were very serious … Flag as irrelevant |
| Maldives: Covid-19 Exposes Abuse of MigrantsHuman Rights WatchMigrant workers in the Maldives face a range of entrenched abuses from employers, including deceptive recruitment practices, wage theft, passport … Flag as irrelevant |
| Letter to the editor: COVID-19 pandemic may lead to a child abuse epidemicNorth Platte TelegraphNational figures on child abuse and neglect reports related to the coronavirus will be collected by DHHS as part of the federal fiscal year 2020, which … Flag as irrelevant |
| Due to COVID-19, Florida’s child abuse, domestic violence rates could be deceptively lowSt. Augustine RecordUnder normal circumstances, a drop in reported rates of domestic violence and child abuse would be welcome news. But 2020 has been anything but … Flag as irrelevant |
| Child Advocacy Groups Expect Reports Of Abuse To Rise As North Texas Kids Go Back To SchoolCBS Dallas / Fort WorthCOVID-19 concerns forced the event to go virtual this year, but the conference last week was still filled with powerful voices, like Mesquite child abuse … Flag as irrelevant |
| Many child abuse cases may be going unreported during pandemicMedical Xpress(HealthDay), Child abuse reports have plunged during the coronavirus pandemic, a troubling sign that the constraints of social distancing may mean … Flag as irrelevant |
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| Surge in Child Abuse, Harm During COVID-19 Pandemic ReportedJAMA NetworkA study documenting an alarming rise in abuse-related head injuries among children in the United Kingdom adds to increasing evidence that the … Flag as irrelevant |
| Centers report handling 40000 fewer child abuse cases amid coronavirus pandemicThe Hill“What we really believe is that there are 40,000 fewer kids that haven’t been saved from abuse.” ADVERTISEMENT. The National Children’s Alliance, an … Flag as irrelevant |
| Genesee County Prosecutor: Uptick in child abuse cases during COVID-19 pandemicnbc25news.comNow, he says community members will have to help break the silence of child abuse. “Parents can…. snap,” said Leyton. Prosecutor Leyton says while … Flag as irrelevant |
| COVID-19 scuttles R. Kelly’s Chicago trial on sex-abuse related charges – againChicago TribuneThe indictment also alleged Kelly and his co-defendants paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to recover child sex tapes before they fell into the hands … Flag as irrelevant |
| Gov. Ron DeSantis, wife Casey hold roundtable on COVID-19 and mental health, substance abuseFirstCoastNews.com WTLV-WJXXNot being able to interact with teachers or extracurricular activities is resulting in a steep dropoff in the number of child abuse reports across the state. Flag as irrelevant |
| Greenbier County CYAC combats new challenges in fight against child abuse during COVID-19 …mountainmessenger.comAlthough many children in Greenbrier County are currently preparing to return to school, their absence from school and a number of public places has … Flag as irrelevant |
| DeSantis says Florida schools with coronavirus cases shouldn’t be quick to shut down againSarasota Herald-TribuneChad Poppell, the secretary of the Florida Department of Children and Families, said teachers play a key role in reporting suspected child abuse cases. Flag as irrelevant |
| Florida’s first lady warns of COVID-19 effect on familiesOrlando Weekly… a discussion on COVID-19 and mental health in Sarasota, Casey DeSantis expressed alarm at a drop in calls and referrals to Florida’s child-abuse … Flag as irrelevant |
| Crime likely being underreported during COVID-19 pandemic, Seminole sheriff saysWKMG News 6 & ClickOrlandoApart from child-related calls, organizations also noted a 32% decrease in sexual abuse investigations and a 50% decline in physical abuse … Flag as irrelevant |
| A Private Security Company Is Detaining Migrant Children at HotelsThe New York Times… is necessary to protect the country from the spread of the coronavirus. … “I’m worried kids may be exposed to abuse, neglect, including sexual abuse … Flag as irrelevant |
| COVID-19 causes mistrial in Dixon County child abuse caseSioux City JournalPONCA, Neb., A judge has declared a mistrial in a Wakefield, Nebraska, woman’s child abuse case after jurors and court personnel were potentially … Flag as irrelevant |
| They’re Children at Risk of Abuse, and Their Caseworkers Are Stuck HomeThe New York TimesScores of investigations into allegations of abuse or neglect have been delayed or sharply curtailed during the coronavirus pandemic, records and … Flag as irrelevant |
| Cuomo says NY schools can reopen in-person but leaves it up to districts to determine if, when and …The New York TimesAs California surpassed 10,000 coronavirus deaths this week, the head of the state’s Health and Human Services Agency, Dr. Mark Ghaly, said a … Flag as irrelevant |
| House Committee Split Over School ReopeningMedPage TodayIn addition, while child abuse reports have fallen, the abuse itself likely has not, … Still, less than 1% of COVID-19 related deaths were children. That is … Flag as irrelevant |
| Opinion: Child abuse reports are down, but is abuse just going unseen during the pandemic?The Colorado SunSince the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Colorado Department of Human Services has seen a 45% decrease in reports to the Child Abuse … Flag as irrelevant |
| Spanberger, Cline introduce bill targeting child sexual exploitation, abuseCBS19 NewsThe release says the number of calls to child protective services regarding child abuse has dropped dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, and … Flag as irrelevant |
| New Mexico Shouldn’t Double Down On Failed System of Child Abuse ReportingYouth TodayThe child abuse surveillance state makes all children less safe. If you were trying to cope with poverty and COVID-19, would you accept a food basket … Flag as irrelevant |
| Child abuse reports went way down when schools closedBakersfield NowIn the three full months after schools closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, child abuse reports severely decreased in Kern County. In April, reports … Flag as irrelevant |
| Child Abuse in the Time of COVID-19EIN NewsIn dysfunctional households, lockdown policies can translate into a nightmare; a child may be stuck at home with an abuser. This is a stressful time for … Flag as irrelevant |
| United Way of CO awards $160K to 26 nonprofits for COVID-19 reliefKTVZThe funds will support these agencies as they adapt in the age of COVID-19 to challenges in delivering services. … long after, such as housing instability, food insecurity, mental health, childcare, domestic violence, and child abuse. Flag as irrelevant |
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| COVID-19 Resources from Doris Duke FellowsPrevent Child Abuse AmericaSubscribe to our quarterly newsletter and we’ll make sure you never miss out on any of the great things going on at Prevent Child Abuse America. Flag as irrelevant |
| Police: Child abuse cases climb as COVID-19 keeps children out of schoolDothan EagleA recent upswing in reports of child sexual abuse cases has area law enforcement concerned there will be another spike in reported cases once … Flag as irrelevant |
| Child sexual abuse: The hidden pandemic we must confrontThe HillAnd this year, COVID-19 has created a perfect storm for unprecedented levels of abuse by trapping children at home with their abusers, driving the … Flag as irrelevant |
| Health and economy experts worry about long-term impact of COVID-19 fightKARE11.com“I worry about child abuse. Our primary first line reporters are teachers, and when the kids aren’t in school, we’ve already seen our numbers of child … Flag as irrelevant |
| Governor Cuomo Signs Legislation Extending Look Back Window for Child Victims Actny.govYet it’s clear many New Yorkers who survived child sexual abuse haven’t come forward, especially during the COVID-19 crisis which has upended … Flag as irrelevant |
| Column: Congress must help abused children during the COVID-19 crisisMichigan AdvanceThis crisis is one Congress can address by putting some of the relief funding toward the fight against child exploitation. The Rape, Abuse & Incest … Flag as irrelevant |
| COVID-19 a ‘natural disaster’ for child welfare. Now experts consider how to rebuildCourier JournalCOVID-19 struck Kentucky’s child welfare system like “a natural disaster,” … Meanwhile, rates of child abuse and neglect remain high, with Kentucky … Flag as irrelevant |
| Cuyahoga County child-abuse complaints plummeted as the coronavirus kept kids at homemsnNOWCLEVELAND, Ohio – Reports of child abuse plummeted in Cuyahoga County this spring, as children stayed home because of concerns about the … Flag as irrelevant |
| Children will pay long-term stress-related costs of Covid-19 unless we follow the scienceSTATIf we don’t, the pandemic will in the short term put millions more children than before at risk for hunger, homelessness, abuse, and neglect. Over the long … Flag as irrelevant |
| Back to school in a pandemic: A guide to all the factors keeping parents and educators up at nightWashington PostReports of child abuse and neglect are down, not because they’re happening less, but because of schools being closed by the coronavirus. Under the … Flag as irrelevant |
| Clark County sees massive decrease in child abuse reports without in-person classes, teacher inputKTNV Las VegasTeachers play a big role in your child’s life. Aside from teaching fundamentals, many also report signs of abuse inside a home. Flag as irrelevant |
| WEB |
| Child Maltreatment Prevention in the Era of Coronavirus Disease 2019JAMA NetworkThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has exposed the frailty of the just-in-time medical system currently in place in the United States. Flag as irrelevant |
| Has child abuse surged under COVID-19? Despite alarming stories from ERs, there’s no answerNBC NewsAn NBC News analysis of data from 43 states and Washington, D.C., found that reports of abuse and neglect in April 2020 dropped by an average of … Flag as irrelevant |
| ‘Isolation helps keep secrets’: Child abuse, neglect reports drop during pandemicCourier JournalLOUISVILLE, Ky., Reports of child abuse and neglect in Kentucky have dropped significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, a decline child welfare … Flag as irrelevant |
| After KY schools closed and kids stayed home, far fewer people reported child abuseLexington Herald LeaderAfter Kentucky schools abruptly closed in March to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the number of child abuse and neglect reports received by state … Flag as irrelevant |
| CASA of Santa Barbara County: Child abuse cases rise during COVID-19KEYTSANTA MARIA, Calif. – CASA of Santa Barbara County which helps abused children is struggling with a rising number of cases during the pandemic. Flag as irrelevant |
| Rape, Child Abuse hotline temporary number drop may be linked to coronavirusKENS5.comThe yield from coronavirus is not typically associated with a positive benefit. But the deadly virus may have driven down calls for rape and child abuse. Flag as irrelevant |
| Rise in child abuse and neglect concerns North Country primary prevention programNorth Country Public RadioCOVID-19 exacerbates exisiting stressors. Piper says that the coronavirus and everything that’s come with it – shutdowns, economic downturn, schools … Flag as irrelevant |
| For Indonesia’s street children, coronavirus means more dangerAljazeera.comCOVID-19 has made life more dangerous for children on the streets who are even more at risk of being sexually abused. by Jessica Washington. Flag as irrelevant |
| Coronavirus could be tamping down abuse reportingLa Grande ObserverIn 2018 La Grande Police Department reported 329 cases of child abuse. This includes physical abuse, sexual abuse and neglect. In 2019 the … Flag as irrelevant |
| TDOE: Child Wellbeing Task Force releases initial COVID-19 impact reportWBIR.comOfficials said that reports of suspected child abuse dropped by 27 percent during peak stay-at-home orders, mostly because mandatory reporters such … Flag as irrelevant |
| Child Abuse Numbers are Down, But DeceivingSpectrum News 1Kentucky State Senator Tests Positive for Coronavirus. Sen. Max Wise made the announcement yesterday. Kentucky2 weeks ago. Flag as irrelevant |
| Virtual learning due to COVID-19 could make helping child abuse victims tougherKTXSABILENE, Texas, Two out of every 10 kids across the country are neglected, physically abused or sexually abused, according to the Regional Victim … Flag as irrelevant |
| Australia’s coronavirus outbreak raises alarm over online child sex abuseReutersFrom Europe to Asia, cases of online child sexual abuse have soared during coronavirus lockdowns as children spend more time online, making them … Flag as irrelevant |
| Eau Claire County DHS sees increase in child abuse and neglect referrals during COVID-19 …WQOW TV News 18Sherill Jahr, a DHS social worker, said in June there was an increase in the number of child abuse and neglect referrals at their agency. She added … Flag as irrelevant |
| Experts say cases of child sexual abuse may be under-reported during coronavirus pandemicKRGVAs a result of the coronavirus pandemic, fewer cases of child sexual abuse are being reported. The number of sexual assaults against children, though … Flag as irrelevant |
| Coronavirus pandemic contributing to significant rise in Boise-area domestic abuse casesKTVB.comThe Women’s and Children’s Alliance in Boise said it’s seen an increased need for its abuse services since the start of the pandemic. This video file … Flag as irrelevant |
| Rising child abuse, other COVID-19 mental health problems discussed with GovernorWPBF West Palm Beachchild abuse could be on the rise due to continued distance learning during the covid-19 crisis…because teachers are the number one reporters of … Flag as irrelevant |
| Child Abuse Council | Children and COVID-19WHBF – OurQuadCities.comdiscussing the evolving coronavirus outbreak with young children. Adults play an important role in helping kids make sense of what they hear and how … Flag as irrelevant |
| Child Advocacy Center preparing for possible influx of child abuse casesFOX10 NewsCoronavirus Daily Newsletter. The latest COVID-19 headlines delivered to your inbox every day. Flag as irrelevant |
| Amid pandemic, more than half of calls to national sexual assault hotline are from children11Alive.com WXIAThey said many children experiencing sexual abuse at home often find themselves isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic. “When we think about child … Flag as irrelevant |
| Coronavirus continuing impact on abuse in San Mateo CountySan Mateo Daily JournalFor the first week of March when classes were being held in person, 150 cases of child abuse were reported to the agency’s hotline with 63 meeting … Flag as irrelevant |
Republished from the Kids At Risk Action blog as written. No images from the original corpus appear in any form.
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