Child Abuse During COVID-19
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General Information
Childhelp.org identifies four main types of child abuse: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual abuse, Child neglect (including medical neglect)
Child abuse rates increased during previous public health emergencies such as Ebola.
Most cases are reported by teachers or caretakers; as schools and childcare services were closed in an attempt to curb coronavirus cases, rates of reporting child abuse fell.
Children are spending more time connected to the internet, which increases the risk of online child abuse. An increase in parental stress (due to financial or emotional strains caused by the virus) and removal of other support networks may contribute to an increase in cases of child abuse.
Previous research has shown a correlation between unemployment and child abuse.
For COVID-19 specific resources, see National Children’s Advocacy Center’s resource hub; Prevent Child Abuse America’s tips for Parents, Guardians, Children and Educators; Zero Abuse Project’s advice for healthcare Multi-Disciplinary Teams; International Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s consolidated resources for educators; and the American Psychological Association and Vox EU’s examinations of the links between child abuse and the pandemic.
+ Direct Support
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Phone 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233)
Teletype: 1-800-787-3224
Text LOVEIS to 22522
Go to thehotline.org for live chat services
Chat service en Español
Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline
- 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453)
- Call or text
- 24/7 hotline
- Click here for a map with Child Protection Service phone numbers by state
- 1-855-4APARENT (1-855-427-2736)
- Open Monday to Friday, 10am -- 7pm PST
- Child sexual abuse hotline
- 24/7 hotline
- Call 866-FOR-LIGHT
- Text LIGHT to 741741
Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN)
- Call 800-656-HOPE (800-656-4673)
- 24/7 hotline
- Live chat service
National Runaway Safeline
- 24/7 hotline
- Call 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929)
- Text 66008
- Send a message
- Email info@1800runaway.org
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
- 24/7 hotline
- Call 1-800-843-5678
National Children’s Advocacy Center
+ Identifying abuse
- Mayoclinic general information on various types of child abuse
- Helpguide on child abuse identification, written by Melinda Smith
- Prevent Child Abuse America child abuse guide for parents
- The Whole Child information page about identifying abuse in children aged 0-5
- RAINN’s warning signs that young children are experiencing sexual abuse
- Child Welfare PDF on recognizing child abuse and neglect
- Very Well Family article on recognizing and reporting child neglect
+ For primary care providers
- Zero Abuse Project advice for Multi Disciplinary Teams (COVID-specific)
- American Family Physician: how to identify physical child abuse
- Darkness to Light: information about child sexual abuse
- American Academy of Pediatrics report on oral and dental signs of child abuse
+ For parents, guardians, and teachers
- Prevent Child Abuse America tips for parents, guardians, children, and educators (COVID-specific)
- Child Welfare’s parent and guardian education to prevent child maltreatment
- Childhelp resource page for parents and guardians
- Kidpower resources and information for schools
- International Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s consolidated resources for educators
- The Enough Abuse Campaign free course on child abuse for teachers
+ Public policy and law
- Find information on current and proposed legislation to protect children on Child USA
- Child Law Advice gives legal advice to victims of child abuse
- Coram Voice provides free child advocate services
+ Intersection of child abuse and intimate partner violence (IPV)
- Child Welfare reports that child abuse and intimate partner violence can often occur in the same family.
- Beyond the coincidence of child abuse and IPV, children may face emotional repurcussions of watching spousal abuse.
- See these National Criminal Justice Reform Center’s recommendations for local policy makers and domestic violence shelters on how to address co-occurence of domestic and child abuse.