The COVID-19 pandemic was, and continues to remain a rough time period for our community, but has presented very lasting effects on child abuse victims. Without school, extra-curricular activities, and regular communication and interaction with protective adults, many children were subject to additional opportunities for child abuse to occur.
When some schools reopened and normal activities began to resume in Spring 2021, Alliance For Children has seen an increase in reports of child abuse over the last handful of months. As a result, we have been serving some of our highest numbers in our almost 30-year history in amount of forensic interviews conducted and the fulfillment of emergency needs.
As a constant face and safe haven for many child abuse victims, teachers continue to be our most consistent avenue for reports of child abuse. With schools welcoming children back full time after months of potential solitude, we are bracing for what could be even more outcries in the coming months.
While we couldn’t control the pandemic, we can implement information to help keep children safer. Below are some steps you can take to keep children safe from abuse.
