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Child maltreatment in the time of COVID-19: Changes in the Florida foster care system surrounding the COVID-19 safer-at-home order.
Musser, Erica D; Riopelle, Cameron; Latham, Robert.
  • Musser ED; Department of Psychology and Center for Children and Families, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States. Electronic address: emusser@fiu.edu.
  • Riopelle C; Data Services, University of Miami Libraries, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States.
  • Latham R; Children & Youth Law Clinic and University of Miami School of Law, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States.
Child Abuse Negl ; 116(Pt 2): 104945, 2021 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1053269
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Media outlets have suggested that rates of child maltreatment may increase during the global COVID-19 pandemic. The few empirical studies that have examined pandemic related changes in rates of child maltreatment have relied predominantly on reports of suspected maltreatment.

OBJECTIVE:

This study examines rates of documented, substantiated child maltreatment resulting in foster care placement, as well as demographic correlates of child maltreatment within the foster care system, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. PARTICIPANTS AND

SETTING:

Data were available for all youth in the FL foster care system from January 1, 2001 through June 30, 2020 (i.e., > 304,000 youth; > 1.1 million total placements).

METHODS:

This study utilizes data from the Florida State Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS).

RESULTS:

Results revealed a decrease in the number of youths placed in the FL foster care system during the COVID-19 pandemic with the greatest reduction in April, 2020 during the Safer-at-Home Order (24 % fewer youth in 2020 than 2019). In contrast, the percentage of placements into foster care due to maltreatment increased by 3.34 %. Demographic-linked differences were observed in placement rates and exposure to maltreatment.

CONCLUSIONS:

While prior work suggests that reports of child maltreatment have decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study demonstrates that overall rates of substantiated maltreatment resulting in foster care placement have increased for White youth, while rates of placement of due to inadequate supervision, emotional neglect, and/or parental substance use have decreased for Black youth. Implications for policy and future research are discussed.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Child Abuse / Foster Home Care / COVID-19 Type of study: Qualitative research Limits: Adolescent / Child / Child, preschool / Female / Humans / Infant / Male / Infant, Newborn Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: Child Abuse Negl Year: 2021 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Child Abuse / Foster Home Care / COVID-19 Type of study: Qualitative research Limits: Adolescent / Child / Child, preschool / Female / Humans / Infant / Male / Infant, Newborn Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: Child Abuse Negl Year: 2021 Document Type: Article