Call an Abuse Survivor Today or Someone in a Tough Relationship

AdamHorowitzLaw.com
March 30, 2020

https://adamhorowitzlaw.com/call-an-abuse-survivor-today-or-someone-in-a-tough-relationship/

During this pandemic, reports of possible child abuse are down and reports of domestic violence are up. Both trends are troubling. You can help make a difference here.

About 70% of all suspected child abuse reports come from teachers, counselors and doctors. As fewer kids see these professionals, fewer reports get made.

Is more child abuse happening now, as families are cooped up together? No one knows. But fewer reports are being called in to state child protection agencies.

That means that some children who would benefit from the intervention of child safety workers aren’t getting attention these days because of the Covid-19 crisis.

But it’s different with domestic violence, advocates say. Partner and spousal abuse IS happening more often now, they believe.

According to NBC News, “as lawmakers across the country order lockdowns to slow the spread of the virus, the lives of people stuck in physically or emotionally abusive relationships have — and will — become harder, which has already been seen in the pandemic hotspots of China and Italy.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/experts-fear-child-abuse-will-increase-coronavirus-isolation-n1170811

An abuse hotline director says she expects “the intensity and frequency of abuse escalate, a pattern that experts witnessed during the economic downturn of 2008 and immediately after 9/11, Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Katrina.”

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52081280

How can you help?

— Call someone you know today who may be in a situation like this. When victims feel ignored or isolated, their pain is compounded. So take just a few minutes to pick up the phone and connect.

— Share on social media the contact info for helpful groups at the bottom of this blog.

— Donate to organizations that fight against these two scourges. Sure, lots of groups and even for-profit businesses need help these days. But those suffering violence or at risk of suffering violence should never be far from our thoughts and near ‘the front of the line’ for our help.