Oklahoma organization calls for the whole community to recognize and report child abuse

In March when schools and daycares were closed, there was an alarming drop in child abuse hotline calls in Oklahoma. Child welfare professionals worried that less contact with teachers and other adults had led to the decrease in reporting rather than a decrease in abuse, especially given the increased stressors in amid the pandemic. The drop in reporting was seen across states and highlighted how much the child protection system depends on reports by professionals. Family and Children’s Services (F&CS) in Oklahoma has worked hard to spread information about recognizing and reporting child abuse to the community at large. They hope to increase public awareness so that nontraditional contacts, like food delivery personnel, grocery store clerks, and home repair people can join the effort to keep young children safe. #covid-19