Ilan Katz1, Carmit Katz2, Sabine Andresen3, Annie Bérubé4, Delphine Collin-Vezina5, Barbara Fallon6, Ansie Fouché7, Sadiyya Haffejee8, Nadia Masrawa9, Pablo Muñoz10, Sidnei R Priolo Filho11, George Tarabulsy12, Elmien Truter13, Natalia Varela14, Christine Wekerle15. 1. Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC), University of New South Wales, Australia. Electronic address: ilan.katz@unsw.edu.au. 2. Bob Shapell School Tel Aviv University, Israel. Electronic address: drckatz@gmail.com. 3. Social Pedagogy and Family Research at Goethe-University Frankfurt, Germany. Electronic address: S.Andresen@em.uni-frankfurt.de. 4. Department of Psychology and Psychoeducation, University of Quebec in Outaouais, Quebec, Canada. Electronic address: annie.berube@uqo.ca. 5. McGill University, Canada. Electronic address: delphine.collin-vezina@mcgill.ca. 6. Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto, Canada. Electronic address: barbara.fallon@utoronto.ca. 7. School of Psychosocial Health, North-West University, COMPRES, South Africa. Electronic address: Ansie.Fouche@nwu.ac.za. 8. Centre for Social Development in Africa, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. Electronic address: sadiyyah@uj.ac.za. 9. Al-Qasemi Educational College of Education, Israel. Electronic address: nadiamss2@yahoo.com. 10. Departamento De Psicología, Universidad Nacional De Colombia, United States. Electronic address: Pmunozs@unal.edu.co. 11. Universidade Tuiuti Do Paraná, Brazil. Electronic address: sdpriolo@gmail.com. 12. University Center for Research on Youth and Families in Quebec City, Canada. Electronic address: george.tarabulsy@psy.ulaval.ca. 13. North-West University COMPRES, South Africa. Electronic address: Elmien.Truter@nwu.ac.za. 14. Facultad Ciencias Sociales y Humanas, Universidad Externado De Colombia, United States. Electronic address: Natalia.varela@uexternado.edu.co. 15. Offord Centre for Child Studies, McMaster University, Canada. Electronic address: chris.wekerle@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has become a worldwide pandemic impacting child protection services (CPSs) in many countries. With quarantine and social distancing restrictions, school closures, and recreational venues suspended or providing reduced access, the social safety net for violence prevention has been disrupted significantly. Impacts include the concerns of underreporting and increased risk of child abuse and neglect, as well as challenges in operating CPSs and keeping their workforce safe. OBJECTIVE: The current discussion paper explored the impact of COVID-19 on child maltreatment reports and CPS responses by comparing countries using available population data. METHOD: Information was gathered from researchers in eight countries, including contextual information about the country's demographics and economic situation, key elements of the CPS, and the CPS response to COVID-19. Where available, information about other factors affecting children was also collected. These data informed a discussion about between-country similarities and differences. RESULTS: COVID-19 had significant impact on the operation of every CPS, whether in high- income or low-income countries. Most systems encountered some degree of service disruption or change. Risk factors for children appeared to increase while there were often substantial deficits in CPS responses, and in most countries there was at a temporary decrease in CM reports despite the increased risks to children. CONCLUSIONS: The initial data presented and discussed among the international teams pointed to the way COVID-19 has hampered CPS responses and the protection of children more generally in most jurisdictions, highlighting that children appear to have been at greater risk for maltreatment during COVID-19.
BACKGROUND:COVID-19 has become a worldwide pandemic impacting child protection services (CPSs) in many countries. With quarantine and social distancing restrictions, school closures, and recreational venues suspended or providing reduced access, the social safety net for violence prevention has been disrupted significantly. Impacts include the concerns of underreporting and increased risk of child abuse and neglect, as well as challenges in operating CPSs and keeping their workforce safe. OBJECTIVE: The current discussion paper explored the impact of COVID-19 on child maltreatment reports and CPS responses by comparing countries using available population data. METHOD: Information was gathered from researchers in eight countries, including contextual information about the country's demographics and economic situation, key elements of the CPS, and the CPS response to COVID-19. Where available, information about other factors affecting children was also collected. These data informed a discussion about between-country similarities and differences. RESULTS:COVID-19 had significant impact on the operation of every CPS, whether in high- income or low-income countries. Most systems encountered some degree of service disruption or change. Risk factors for children appeared to increase while there were often substantial deficits in CPS responses, and in most countries there was at a temporary decrease in CM reports despite the increased risks to children. CONCLUSIONS: The initial data presented and discussed among the international teams pointed to the way COVID-19 has hampered CPS responses and the protection of children more generally in most jurisdictions, highlighting that children appear to have been at greater risk for maltreatment during COVID-19.
Authors: Corinne A Riddell; Kriszta Farkas; Krista Neumann; N Jeanie Santaularia; Jennifer Ahern; Susan M Mason Journal: Prev Med Date: 2022-08-23 Impact factor: 4.637