09/08/2020
"Everyone seems to agree that the reduction in the number of calls to CPS since March 2020 is related to children’s lack of proximity to professional mandated reporters. Teachers, day care workers, health professionals, and social workers are not seeing children on a regular basis. As a result, of course, the number of reports to CPS is likely to go down."
"Everyone also seems to agree that the COVID-19 crisis has added to the stress that families already faced pre-pandemic. There are record levels of unemployment, unparalleled food insecurity, along with families forced to spend more time together than ever before. Add to this unprecedented social action in response to the death of George Floyd that has heightened societal perceptions of structural and systemic racism. As a result of these extraordinary circumstances, many have the expectation that child maltreatment will go up."
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, many wonder what impact it has on children and families. Will child maltreatment increase, decrease, or remain the same? Child abuse reports seem to be falling, but what is really happening?
