1. COVID-19 and Child Welfare: Using Data to Understand Trends in Maltreatment and Response. Issue Brief
- Author
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Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, Weiner, Dana, Heaton, Leanne, Stiehl, Mike, Chor, Brian, Kim, Kiljoong, Heisler, Kurt, Foltz, Richard, and Farrell, Amber
- Abstract
Since March 2020, states across the country have taken extreme measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Stay-at-home orders and deteriorating economic conditions have placed families under stress, while children home from school have diminished exposure to adults who might detect and report abuse and neglect. There are concerns that these circumstances could heighten the risk of undetected maltreatment, and that an eventual return to school will result in a deluge of child maltreatment reports that could overwhelm child welfare systems. Research shows that large-scale economic crises can lead to financial loss, stress, and general hardship, which are risk factors for child maltreatment (Brooks-Gunn et al., 2013). Families experiencing poverty and economic insecurity have higher rates of child abuse and neglect (Boyer & Halbrook, 2011); county-level research corroborates this correlation (Courtney et al., 2005). At the same time, COVID-19-related closures have reduced the opportunities for mandated reporters (e.g., teachers, day care providers, mental health professionals, doctors) to observe children. This brief summarizes efforts to respond to these concerns and provide empirical guidance to child welfare system leaders.
- Published
- 2020