Key Messages

COVID-19 has placed significant strain on the safety, physical and mental health of children and families involved with the child welfare system. Despite a reduction in child abuse and neglect reports during this period, a substantial increase in calls to help lines demonstrates that children’s removal from daycare, school, medical, social and other settings is contributing to the decrease in reports, rather than a true reduction in maltreatment. Children, youth, parents, and service providers must be armed with the knowledge and concrete strategies to manage this challenging period. Organizations must adapt their services to the current context by providing meaningful communication strategies – in many cases via digitally interactions.

Keywords

• Child welfare
• Mental health
• Substance misuse
• Abuse
• Neglect
• Social Work

Author(s)

• Nominated Principal Applicants: Dr. Lise Milne, Assistant Professor – University of Regina Faculty of Social Work
• Dr. Nathalie Reid, Director – University of Regina Child Trauma Research Centre
• Dr. Lise Milne, Assistant Professor – University of Regina Faculty of Social Work and Dr. Nathalie Reid, Director – University of Regina Child Trauma Research Centre
• Susana Prado, University of Regina, Program Manager – Child Trauma Research Centre
• Chantelle Priel, University of Regina, Student – Faculty of Social Work
• Rayna Fisher, University of Regina, Student – Faculty of Social Work

For more information, please contact: Dr. Milne, lise.mine@uregina.ca

Related Syntheses

• Niikaniganaw (All My Relations) Ii – the COVID-19 Rapid Response: Indigenous Approaches to Synthesizing Knowledge for Culturally-safe and Stigma Free Mental Health Care for Under-served Indigenous Communities in Ottawa-Gatineau
• The Relationship Between Social Connectedness and Mental Health for Residents of Long-term Care Homes: Knowledge Synthesis and Mobilization
• What is the impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic on the mental health of children aged 5–12, and what are the specific issues faced by children with a disability or chronic illness? A scoping review of problems experienced and promising avenues for intervention

Population

Children, Youth and Families

Language

To ensure the rapid dissemination of this critical information, information is published in the language in which it was submitted. Please contact us for French or English translations.