Child advocates at Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel said that while the number of calls to Oregon’s child abuse hotline are substantially down from last year, they suspect child abuse and exposure to domestic violence are becoming more severe behind closed doors.
“I’m hearing from our teams one of the biggest challenges is the cases which are getting through are more extreme, more horrific, in terms of the level of child abuse,” said Kevin Dowling, executive director of CARES Northwest (Child Abuse Response and Evaluations Services). CARES Northwest is a collaborative, community-based medical program founded by Randall Children's Hospital, Kaiser Permanente, OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital and Providence Children's Health.
As Street Roots first reported in April, school closures and stay-at-home orders have limited children’s in-person access to trusted adults outside the home, including teachers, youth leaders and coaches — the very adults to whom children often disclose abuse. According to the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS), teachers are one of the leading reporters to the state’s child abuse hotline.
The state’s most recent Child Welfare Progress Report for December showed nearly 5,000 fewer calls to the child abuse hotline (and cross-reporting by law enforcement) in November 2020, compared to November 2019.
Oregon's DHS press secretary, Sunny Petit, said the calls can range from reports of abuse or neglect to general questions about how to help a family or locate a child’s caseworker.
The rate of assigned investigations from those calls remained fairly steady year-over-year, with 43 fewer assignments in November 2020 than in November 2019; but Petit said DHS workers are “still unable to conclusively say what impact COVID-19 has had on rates of maltreatment.”
Randall Children’s Hospital reported 32% fewer child abuse cases in its emergency department in 2020 compared to 2019, but the number of children admitted for severe injuries, including head trauma and other life-threatening conditions, only dropped 11%.
At CARES Northwest, staff conducted 21% fewer child abuse medical evaluations in 2020. By just looking at the data, Dowling said one could get the impression child abuse has decreased.
“CARES Northwest is seeing 20% fewer kids, and isn’t that great?” Dowling asked rhetorically. “But I don’t think that’s reality. In fact, I think it’s the opposite.”
CARES Northwest offers forensic interviews, medical evaluations and ongoing treatment for children at its centers in Multnomah and Washington counties. Many of its referrals come from student disclosures to their teachers.
Dowling cited a case in which an elementary school teacher called the child abuse hotline after spotting bruises on the arm of one of her second-grade students.
“It turns out, the student was being beaten and tortured by her mom,” Dowling said. “So, the person you’d expect to be the most likely to protect her was the person who was really threatening her life.”
Dowling said the student lived in such a horrid environment that her body had stopped growing. Once free from the home and supported by people who loved her, he said, the little girl grew 6 inches in six months.
Dowling wonders what would have happened if that teacher hadn’t been around to notice her bruises and take action.
“To think, there are children who are being hurt but don’t have a place to go to get help,” Dowling said. “Home is a safe place for most kids, but not for everyone.”
Another trend CARES Northwest staff members have noticed during the pandemic is youths — who are seen at the center for abuse or neglect — are making more disclosures about domestic violence and drug use in their homes.
On average, nearly 50% of CARES Northwest clients have a history of violence in the home, but with the additional fallout from COVID-19, Dowling said he can only assume things are getting worse “with increased stressors and few healthy ways to deal with that stress.”
Dowling said many parents don’t realize how much their children are hearing and how exposure to domestic violence can traumatize young people. He said research shows consistent exposure to violence can affect the chemical makeup of a child’s brain and lead to other physical and emotional health problems.
A Michigan State University study in 2014 found domestic violence can affect children even before they’re born. Researchers said babies born to mothers who had been involved in violent relationships while pregnant tended to be bothered by loud noises and bright lights, to be startled more easily and to have trouble experiencing enjoyment.
Dowling said exposure to violence poses challenges for all ages.
“Even a tiny 5-year-old can think it’s somehow their job to stop their parents from fighting,” he said.
An advisory council with Prevent Child Abuse Oregon recently asked more than 400 parents and 45 community leaders to identify the most pressing issues facing the state’s children and families during the ongoing pandemic.
The report, “Impact of Covid on Families,” found, “Families, especially with those with younger school-aged children (5-8), are at a crisis point with virtual school.”
Council members discovered many families in rural areas struggle with a lack of access to the internet. Others, with adequate technology, worry children are at an increased risk of harm from online sexual predators.
The council reported safe and stable housing is one of the most pressing needs, as well as mental health support that’s responsive to different cultures and languages.
Prevent Child Abuse Oregon is now using that feedback to find solutions for families. It is sponsoring a series of virtual parent support sessions to help parents connect with other caregivers and glean some practical guidance during the pandemic.
Licensed psychologist Amy Stoeber will lead the opening session on Feb. 4, which will be followed by smaller group meetings for six weeks. Registration is free online.
Stoeber, who has a Ph.D., said parents who are balancing the needs of their kids, family, jobs and safety need validation on this collective experience and tools to help determine where to focus.
“Anytime we help parents, we help children,” said Stoeber, who added that students are experiencing increased depression, suicide ideation and hopelessness.
“Kids are social and meant to be around other children their age,” she said. “I believe the long-term effects of the decision to be in distance learning will have a generational impact.”
Dowling, of CARES Northwest, said he cannot emphasize enough the importance of staying connected during the pandemic. He urges adults to repeatedly check in with the kids in their lives to ensure the youth are healthy and safe.
“Those little kids can’t really pick up the phone to call 911 on their own, or they’re not going to,” Dowling said. “It’s really up to us adults to avoid being concerned about butting into other people’s business and do something to protect those kids.”
The CARES Northwest team is prepping for a flood of child abuse cases as schools reopen and teachers get eyes on students. Dowling said the sooner child victims get help, the better, to help prevent youths from turning to drugs, alcohol or other methods to “treat” their symptoms.
“We have a tremendous opportunity to help children early on, and we’re not reaching those kids,” said Dowling. “There are literally hundreds of kids who aren’t coming to CARES this year to get our help.”