March 22, 2021
According to Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, last year saw a 22% drop in cases of child abuse, likely a result of increased isolation of vulnerable children due to school closures and stay-at-home orders. Read the PennLive coverage of this report here.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vulnerable children in Pennsylvania has been an ongoing conversation among our member Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) in Pennsylvania as we track the numbers and types of abuse cases seen by CACs since school closures and stay-at-home orders began last spring. The article underscores the importance of vaccination for teachers and children: “I can’t emphasize enough the need to get back in school,” says pediatrician Dr. Rachel Berger, chief of the division of Child Advocacy at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. “Children need to be back in school […] At least, get them into a classroom. Get a teacher seeing these kids.”