Children's Defense Fund

This pandemic puts vulnerable children at even greater risk.

John,

In the midst of a crisis, children can fall through the cracks.

Across the country, far too many children are at higher risk of abuse and neglect due to the stress of this pandemic. Youth who are aging out of foster care have nowhere to go while the rest of the world stays home. Children are living in group homes where social distancing is impossible. Children who lose their family members to COVID-19 are thrust into a child welfare system already stretched thin.

The impacts of COVID-19 are putting additional stress on families navigating school closures, job losses, social isolation, and significant barriers to critical support services. At the same time, courts have closed, cases are being delayed, in-person visits with families are being limited or suspended altogether, and social workers are having to shift to virtual platforms, creating instability for the children and families they serve.

Without interventions to aid families and the systems that support them, this pandemic puts already vulnerable children at even greater risk.

That’s why last week we delivered a letter to Congress on behalf of nearly 600 organizations across the country demanding immediate action to equip the child welfare system to handle this crisis.

The Children’s Defense Fund is fighting to make sure our country takes action now to strengthen families and keep children safe. To make sure we can quickly and effectively meet the needs of children in this unprecedented moment, we created the Children in Crisis Fund. If you have the means, please donate now and help us keep children safe.

Thank you for your support.