Experts alarmed by dramatic decrease in child abuse reporting during COVID-19
By Benjamin Olshin ‘21
Child Abuse Reporting: 2019/2020 comparison from Washington County, Courtesy of KGW.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, child abuse reporting has plummeted. While these lower rates of reporting may suggest lower rates of abuse, experts are alarmed by this trend.
According to Dr. Dan Leonhardt, the Medical Director of Child Abuse Response and Evaluation Services Northwest (CARES NW), nearly 50% of all child abuse reports came from mandatory reporters before COVID-19. These reporters - mainly teachers, school administrators and bus drivers - served an important role in preventing abuse from going unnoticed. The transition to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly hindered these reporters’ ability to evaluate child abuse claims.
CARES NW, Oregon’s biggest child advocacy center, evaluates and treats child abuse in Multnomah and Washington Counties. The organization provides its services to children aged five to 18 years old. Dr. Leonhardt describes that CARES NW staff evaluates child abuse claims through videotaped interviews during which the child talks while “coloring or playing with play-doh as community partners, representatives from the Department for Homeland Security, and law enforcement are on the other side of a one-sided mirror.”
While the organization previously served 1,500 kids annually, they have seen a marked decline in referrals during COVID-19. Dr. Leonhardt explains that “each year, child abuse reporting dips during the summer. COVID-19 has been this, on steroids.”
Due to the pandemic, the organization has moved to virtual evaluation and therapy sessions over Zoom. In this format, it is difficult for CARES NW care providers to understand the full scope of a child’s potential abuse since parents - who are the primary perpetrators of child abuse - may be nearby and influence what the child says or shows the medical professional.
Medical experts suspect there could be an increase in child abuse related to the pandemic. This is because the pandemic has resulted in increased child abuse risk factors for many families: increased financial stress, job loss, increased substance abuse, and worsening mental health, among other factors.
If abuse increased or flatlined during the pandemic, experts speculate whether there will be a surge of child abuse reports once most schools return to in-person learning.
Until then, we can only spread awareness, learn to recognize the warning signs, and report suspected abuse when we see it.
Look out for these symptoms of child abuse identified by the Mayo Clinic:
Withdrawal from friends or usual activities
Changes in behavior — such as aggression, anger, hostility or hyperactivity — or changes in school performance
Depression, anxiety or unusual fears, or a sudden loss of self-confidence
An apparent lack of supervision
Frequent absences from school
Reluctance to leave school activities, as if he or she doesn't want to go home
Attempts at running away
Rebellious or defiant behavior
Self-harm or attempts at suicide
Report suspected child abuse to the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline at 1-855-503-SAFE (7233), available 24/7/365.
At Catlin Gabel School, report any safety concerns at the SafeSchools Tip Line.