Identification and incidence of child maltreatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic raised serious concerns about child maltreatment, which is known to increase in frequency and severity during times of high stress. The present study used diverse data sets to concurrently examine changes in identification and medical evaluation of maltreatment allegations from before to during COVID-19. Four sources of data were collected from two counties for the months of March through December, 2019 and 2020, including reports to social services and child maltreatment evaluation center medical evaluations (CMECs). The number of reports, number of children reported, and rate of children reported were used to evaluate identification. Incidence was estimated based on the number of medical evaluations conducted at the CMECs. Maltreatment type, reporter type, and child demographics were also considered. Across both counties, there were significantly fewer reports and reported children in 2020 compared with in 2019, signifying decreased identification of suspected maltreatment cases. This was especially true in spring and fall when children are typically in school. Across both counties, the proportion of children reported to the county that received medical evaluations was higher in 2020 compared with in 2019. This suggests that the pandemic was related to an increase in the occurrence of maltreatment serious enough to warrant medical evaluations, or perhaps in the relative number of serious cases identified. Findings show divergent trends in reporting and evaluation of suspected maltreatment cases from before to during COVID-19. Identification and service delivery methods need creative solutions to adapt to changing environments. Medical, social, and legal systems need to prepare for increases in families seeking services as pandemic-related restrictions are lifted.

Physiological evidence of escalating stress during COVID-19: a longitudinal assessment of child welfare workers

“…It is time to consider systematic solutions during this changing environment of pandemic-related restrictions (Metcalf et al, 2022). According to Pisani-Jacques (2020) the child welfare system is now in crisis, and the workforce is feeling these effects.…”

“…Concerns about the pandemic's impact on child welfare practice (e.g., increased levels of maltreatment and placements, etc.) and whether child maltreatment was being adequately reported remain (Brown, Orsi, Chen, Everson, & Fluke, 2022;Merritt & Simmel, 2020;Metcalf et al, 2022;Nugyen 2021;Wong, Ming, Maslow, & Gifford, 2020).…”

The COVID-19 pandemic and lay perceptions of poverty and neglect.

“…These studies provided important new insight into laypersons’ perceptions of poverty and neglect and how the COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted those perceptions. Although significant research is now unpacking the plethora of ways the pandemic has impacted maltreatment, including neglect, in children and families (Lawson et al, 2020; Metcalf et al, 2022; Rodriguez et al, 2021), research has yet to consider how it may have impacted perceptions of neglect and, in turn, laypersons’ likelihood of accurately identifying and reporting cases to authorities. Our findings demonstrate that whereas many people recognize situations of neglect as such and indicate that they would report neglectful situations, others confuse poverty with neglect.…”

“…These include neighbors, family members, or family friends who, although not formally trained or required to report, see behaviors or situations that raise concerns and respond by contacting authorities. The school closures and stay-at-home orders associated with COVID-19 resulted in mandated reporters having less contact with children and correspondingly fewer reports from these professionals about possible harm to children (Metcalf et al, 2022). Laypersons, who are unlikely to have had formal training, were playing a more frequent role in identifying and reporting suspicions.…”

Early Childhood Education Teacher Well-Being: Performativity as a Means of Coping

“…Increasing and potentially detrimental circumstances (e.g., poverty, lack of quality childcare) exist for some children in the United States (Mersky et al, 2021 ; Pianta, 1999 ; Walsh et al, 2019 ) and globally (Ulke et al, 2021 ; Wong et al, 2021 ). These factors may negatively affect parents and parenting (Brooks-Gunn et al, 2013 ; Jones et al, 2021 ), thereafter affecting children (Brooks-Gunn & Duncan, 1997 ; Hiilamo et al, 2021 ; Metcalf et al, 2022 ). As a result, children may be labeled “at risk” for school failure before kindergarten 1 .…”