Don’t let youths become secondary victims
“Can you help?” the social worker asked. “We have so many teens in our programs who just lost their first job due to closures, I’m worried they have lost motivation and are on the brink of homelessness.”
Conversations like this between social workers and their nonprofit partners are happening all across Tennessee, more often because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The health and economic implications of the COVID-19 crisis are rightfully at center stage right now, but just behind the curtain is another concern: vulnerable children and teens.
Most children will not suffer the dire health effects of the virus, but too many at-risk children will become secondary victims.
While social isolation is critical to preventing the virus’s spread, it can have devastating effects on vulnerable children and families. As a state, we need to tackle this looming crisis with open eyes to prevent it from becoming a tragic consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Home isn’t always safe
Home should be a safe place for every child, but for too many children, school is their safe place. Anytime children are home for long stretches of time with economically strapped and emotionally stressed parents, incidences of child abuse and neglect rise.
For example, many social workers call the time immediately after school starts the “October flood,” because when kids start school again, investigations result in more children entering foster care.
Nationally, child welfare offices are reporting a significant decrease in the number of abuse and neglect calls since schools shut down. This does not mean abuse and neglect is not happening. Rather, it means harmful behavior toward kids is largely invisible until the social isolation ends.
Compounding the problem is the fact that thousands of foster families are also struggling to care for children with significant challenges during the new normal. Kids with high incidences of adverse childhood experiences can provide unique challenges during normal circumstances.
Add in canceled therapy appointments, no respite help from babysitters or family members, along with working and schooling from home, and many foster families are suddenly feeling burned out.
We simply can’t afford to lose foster and kinship families at a time when we are facing an increase of children coming into foster care.
National Child Abuse Awareness Month just ended. Everyone in Tennessee is a mandated reporter under state law. Any person with reasonable cause to believe a child is being abused or neglected must, under the law, immediately report to the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services or to local law enforcement. The reporter can remain anonymous.
To report child abuse or neglect, call 877-237-0004, or make an online report on the Tennessee government’s child abuse referral and tracking page.
How to help
What else can you do to help?
❚ Have you been thinking about becoming a foster family? Now is the time to attend a virtual information meeting. There is expected to be a huge influx ofkids entering care this fall. Be ready. Be trained and certified to meet that need as it happens. The Department of Children’s services has moved its training online to make it more convenient for potential families. Many private provider agencies have done so as well. Visit to review upcoming dates, visit Tnfosters.
❚ If you know an at-risk family that is struggling, send a gift card for groceries or other basic needs.
❚ Help a current of foster family by wrapping around them and offering respite care -- virtually! Check out the Tennessee Kids Belong blog to read about more ways to help care for these families during this time.
❚ Talk to your employer about becoming “Foster Friendly” as a company. Visit Tennessee Kids Belong to learn more.
❚ Donate to your favorite foster care nonprofit so they can focus on serving children and families in these urgent times.
Together we can ensure, even in these difficult times, that all our children have the families and support they need and deserve.