Suffering in Silence: How COVID-19 School Closures Inhibit the Reporting of Child Maltreatment

Reopening K-12 Schools in the Era of Coronavirus Disease 2019: Review of State-Level Guidance Addressing Equity Concerns

“…For each state-level document, we extracted the state, author, and date last updated as of our reading. We also recorded whether the document mentioned equity as a guiding principle and whether the state offered any specific guidance regarding the following equity concerns: (1) food insecurity and child nutrition, (2) homelessness or temporary housing, (3) lack of access to Internet/technology, (4) students with disabilities or special needs in education, (5) Englishlanguage learners, (6) students involved with or on the verge of involvement with the Department of Children and Family Services or an equivalent agency (this category includes students at risk of abuse and neglect, as well as students in foster care), (7) mental health support, (8) students at greater risk of severe illness from SARS-CoV-2 infection, (9) staff at greater risk of severe illness from SARS-CoV-2 infection, (10) students living with someone at greater risk of severe illness from SARS-CoV-2 infection, and (11) staff living with someone at greater risk of severe illness from SARS-CoV-2 infection. More information about how we defined each of these 11 categories can be found in Table I (available at www.jpeds.com).…”

Family violence against children in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic: a review of current perspectives and risk factors

“…Public nurseries represent an important protective factor against maltreatment [56] but their ability to play this role has been curtailed by COVID-19. Also, school closures have meant an estimated 27% decline in the reported allegations of abuse, neglect, or abandonment of children made to the Florida Child Abuse Hotline during March and April 2020, a reduction very similar to that seen in normal times when school is out of session [57]. In addition, the resources that many at-risk parents rely on are no longer available in many areas in times of crisis.…”

Coping With COVID-19: Learning From Past Pandemics to Avoid Pitfalls and Panic

“…54,55,58,71 Other huge consequences of school closures include documented surges in child abuse; hunger from missed subsidized meals; and greater anxiety, depression and isolation, which often are most acutely experienced by students with autism, Down syndrome, attentiondeficit/hyperactivity disorder and other special needs challenges. [71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80]…”