Child Maltreatment

Addressing child abuse and neglect during the COVID-19 crisis

 

Since COVID-19 has arrived in NH, the State has seen a 50% decline in reported abuse cases as families have not had access to home vising, schools, and other services that help to monitor child safety and identify and respond to potential maltreatment. With families living in isolation and disconnected from their traditional systems of support, there is growing concern that we will see a rise in incidences of child abuse and neglect. In response to this fear, several new resources have become available to help those interacting with families during the COVID-19 crisis to detect and respond to concerns about child and family safety. 

 

  • Click here to view the cover letter of the new Family Wellbeing Guide, signed by Joseph E. Ribsam Jr., Director of the Division for Children, Youth, and Families at the Department of Health and Human Services. 
  • Please carefully review the new Family Wellbeing Guide, Supporting Child and Family Wellbeing during the COVID-19 Emergency. This brief guide provides helpful tips for anyone interacting with families during the COVID-19 crisis. It offers guidance on asking questions to help uncover issues related to child safety, information to help families get connected to needed services, and examples of what necessitates a report to DCYF. 
  • Click here to learn more about Waypoint's Family Support Warm Line, a free service which allows parents to connect with a Family Support Specialist within one business day. The Warm Line is available at: 1-800-640-6486 Monday thru Friday from 8:30 am until 4:30 pm.
  • ZERO TO THREE is offering a webinar series on addressing abuse and neglect during COVID-19. Each webinar focuses on a specific early childhood sector, providing resources and opportunities for reflective dialogue around trauma-informed practice and prevention efforts, vicarious traumatization risk, and promoting professional resilience.