Experts believe that child abuse and neglect is spiking due to pandemic-related economic stress, yet maltreatment reports are down by 50% in many states because mandated reporters aren’t seeing children regularly.
Some creative solutions are emerging to identify hidden maltreatment. New Jersey suggests having teachers give children a “safe word” to signal when they are being abused. In Allegheny County Pennsylvania, caseworkers ask children if they can safely get in a room alone to tell them what is happening. A grassroots campaign run by former Arizona child welfare workers is training grocery workers, delivery services, and food banks to recognize and report abuse.
These ideas aren’t yet widespread. But hopefully COVID-19 will inspire states to embrace more innovation, especially around identifying abuse through more robust relationships with teachers and community partners.