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Abstract
In many North American jurisdictions, socioeconomically vulnerable families are more likely to be involved with child protection systems and experience ongoing challenges. The current public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic is having a disproportionate impact on these families via unemployment, “essential” work, isolation, and closures of childcare and schools, with negative implications for children’s developmental wellbeing. Experts warn that while child protection referrals have gone down, children who are at risk of maltreatment are less exposed to typical reporters (e…
Abstract
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brings new worries about the welfare of children, particularly those of families living in poverty and impacted other risk factors. These children will struggle more during the pandemic because of financial pressures and stress placed on parents, as well as their limited access to services and systems of support. In this commentary, we explain how current circumstances reinforce the need for systemic change within statutory child welfare systems and the benefits that would accrue by implementing a continuum of services that combine universal…
In this short editorial, the organization New Beginnings shares the stories of three of the families they work with who have wanted to explain what lockdown has meant for them during this peculiar time. One of the stories comes from a parent whose children were removed from her care two weeks into lockdown. Another comes from a parent whose daughter has since been reunited with her from foster care.
This editorial piece from The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health urges that the "far-reaching consequences [of the COVID-19 crisis] call for children and their right to health, education, and protection to be prioritised in the pandemic response and recovery planning."
"Recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is an opportunity for governments worldwide to reassess priorities—advancing human development and reducing disparities, especially for children, must be a major investment," says the editorial, including investing in health, education, and social protection. "As poverty and…
In this blog post, Anna Riatti - coordinator of the UNICEF Refugee and Migrant Response in Italy - describes how UNICEF is supporting refugee and migrant children in Italy in light of the COVID-19 crisis. This support includes remote counselling and psychological support for refugees and migrants, over the phone or online. This support extends to guardians and foster care families who need support and stress management.