Children at Risk: Ensuring Child Safety During the Pandemic

Fiese, Barbara; Fuller, Tamara; Goulet, Betsy; Fretwell-Wilson,Robin

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/109824 Copy

Description

Title

• Children at Risk: Ensuring Child Safety During the Pandemic
• Children at Risk; Ensuring Child Safety During the Pandemic

Author(s)

• Fiese, Barbara
• Fuller, Tamara
• Goulet, Betsy
• Fretwell-Wilson,Robin

Issue Date

2020-05-14

Keyword(s)

• research
• family
• center
• abuse
• children

Abstract

Children at Risk: Ensuring Child Safety During the Pandemic The week that Illinois schools and most child care centers closed to “flatten the curve” of the coronavirus, calls to the Illinois child abuse and neglect hotline plummeted. There were 1,744 calls that week, compared to 3,667 the previous week.1 All reports for April 2020 were just 47% of reports received in April 2019. Illinois is not alone. Pennsylvania, Oregon, and Wisconsin have experienced similar drops in hotline calls.2 Across the nation, children who were once seen regularly by teachers and caretakers have suddenly become unseen. Teachers play a vital protective role for children. Across the nation, teachers serve as sentinels, vigilant for signs of abuse or neglect. Already, companies like AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon have stepped up the data available to all families in Illinois.30 A public-private partnership approach could close the digital divide almost overnight. Companies could establish hotspots for families to access supportive services, and for providers to conduct virtual visits with families who are experiencing reduced access to cell service. Hotspots are only half the solution. Children and families need devices to access digital safety nets.

Type of Resource

text

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/109824

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