‘The Pandemic Affected My Life in a Negative Way’: The Experiences of Estonian Children in Child Protective Services During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

Abstract

This study investigates children's experiences concerning the effect of the containment measures associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) on their daily lives. A small‐scale study using in‐depth, semi‐structured interviews was conducted in Estonia with 10 children registered with Child Protective Services (CPS) as in need of assistance. The COVID‐19 pandemic generally negatively affected the children, who struggled with e‐schooling, social relationships and emotional well‐being. Most of the children reported struggling with their emotional well‐being, using words such as anxiety, tension, fear, sadness, and depressing. Not all of the children received the necessary support or assistance from the CPS. The children reported a few positive experiences during the COVID‐19 pandemic, such as attaining a more personalised method and schedule for studying and receiving parental support during e‐schooling.

Children's lives in an era of school closures: Exploring the implications of COVID‐19 for child labour in Ghana

“…Children also experience school‐level disruptions (displaying sadness about school closures and missing friends) as well as community‐level disruptions (reflected in their awareness of rising hunger and economic crisis in their communities) (Haffejee et al, 2022 ). These findings are not unique, as they align with Toros' ( 2021 ) study of the lived experiences of Estonian children in the context of COVID‐19. Toros ( 2021 ) finds that Estonian children generally struggled with online learning, emotional well‐being and social relationships.…”

The voices of parents in child protective services: A qualitative analysis of families’ struggles with COVID-19

“…As children become more in need of help and protection during a crisis, ongoing support for families during a global emergency is of vital importance to ensuring the well-being of children. Nevertheless, the pandemic has resulted in the breakdown of formal systems of support, leading to the interruption of welfare services ( Campbell, 2020 ; Toros, 2021 ). Fickler (2020) has identified children in Child Protective Services as the group most harmed by the pandemic due to the disruption of welfare services as well as educational and early care systems, limiting the ability to protect children in need ( Fegert & Schulze, 2020 ).…”

“…COVID-related research refers to the importance of creativity in finding solutions and flexibility in the management and operation of the child protection system (e.g., Cabiati, 2021 ; Caldwell et al, 2020 ; Sen et al, 2021 ; Toros, 2021 ; Toros & Falch-Eriksen, 2020 ; Zhang et al, 2021 ). The child welfare system has become bureaucratically preoccupied ( Ferguson, 2017 ) as a consequence of managerialism ( Munro & Turnell, 2018 ; Rogowski, 2011 ).…”

“…Furthermore, it is essential to uphold and enforce the right of the child to protection, understanding that “rights are supposed to be enforced, albeit tailored to fit the new crisis context, and new enforcement must be conditioned to accommodate and answer the challenges caused by the crisis” ( Toros & Falch-Eriksen, 2020 ). Studies indicate that the pandemic has shifted the focus away from the best interests of vulnerable children and replaced it with a focus on the interests of adults ( Campbell et al, 2021 ; Toros, 2021 ).…”

“…A study conducted in Estonia has indicated a general lack of systemic action to respond to referrals or conduct assessments to evaluate care contexts during the state of emergency ( Toros & Falch-Eriksen, 2020 ). Furthermore, based on Toros (2021) study, children registered in CPS reported struggling with their emotional well-being, and not all of them received the necessary support or assistance from CPS.…”