By Stephanie Villafuerte

April 23, 2020

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. In the time of stay-home orders and closed schools, children are walking a tightrope without a safety net. They are more at risk than ever before for abuse and neglect. The network of public services like schools, after school programs, and health care providers that weaves together a safety net for children is significantly altered, leaving children out of view and potentially in distress. Public sector ombudsman professionals around the country now call upon communities, neighbors, delivery persons and anyone with the opportunity, to check-in on children.

State and local ombudsman around the country, some dedicated specifically to children, investigate and resolve concerns related to state and county government, including the care and protection of children. The goal is always creating a better system. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered the play book for state response and government oversight. We acknowledge the increasingly challenging, critical work state and local child welfare agencies do every day to protect children. However, we also understand, based on our work, that these agencies do not have the resources to check on every child. In order to keep all of our children safe, we need each of our communities to be the eyes and ears of those agencies to ensure everyone gets out of this pandemic safely.

Reports of abuse and neglect have significantly declined across the country. We wish that were good news, but it is likely not. Teachers and other safety net reporters are not seeing the children and therefore they are not making the calls. Not only is risk of harm still there, it is heightened. We know from events like Hurricane Katrina and Super Storm Sandy, that when families experience increased stress related to disrupted family routines, food insecurity, unemployment, and the collective unknown caused by the state of a national emergency, children are undoubtedly at increased risk to feel the brunt of that stress. We must all acknowledge that children at home, out of sight, during this kind of instability, are at increased risk of abuse or neglect. We must all be alert and watchful for signs.

Despite stay-at-home orders and restrictions on social interaction, there are still ways that you can help and minimize stress. Call, E-mail, text, video-chat, or shout over the fence from next door to your neighbors, “You doing okay? Are you safe?” Check in with parents you know are home with their children; acknowledge their stress and compliment their efforts, however small. Encourage people to create at-home routines to help structure the family’s day. Share contact numbers for local housing, medical, food or mental health resources. Drop-off supplies, such as toilet paper, milk or a coloring book. Review your state’s child abuse and neglect reporting laws. Check out initiatives like the Know and Tell Initiative at Knowandtell.org. They offer an excellent national on-line training course for identifying and reporting abuse and neglect – take the time to complete it. Contact your state ombudsman or child advocate office with questions or concerns about state agencies charged with protecting children. For more information about whether your state has a Children’s Ombudsman or Child Advocate, visit the National Conference of State Legislature’s webpage. Importantly, remind families that this will end. Everyone needs hope to get through a rough time.

And if you are feeling frustrated or at-risk of harming your child:

• Take a walk outside if it is safe to do so
• Listen and/or dance to music
• Take a break from your child in another room, or place your infant in a crib for a few moments
• Play a game, or watch a funny show
• Call a friend, family member, doctor or help-line.

When the pandemic recedes, states should prepare for an influx of reports. As children return to school and community activities, there is likely to be a rise in reports and correspondingly, in the need for increased family supports and foster families to assist in recovering family function.

Today, we may be asked to remain home and limit our contact with each other, but we are still one community. Physical distance prevents the spread of the virus, social distance increases isolation and stress. Take safe steps to remain socially connected. We all have a community responsibility to ensure children are healthy, safe, and thriving. The safety net we weave should be one that prevents child abuse and neglect, and strengthens the system and support for families when they need it most.

Stephanie Villafuerte
Office of Colorado’s
Child Protection Ombudsman
https://coloradocpo.org/

Patrick Dowd
Washington State Office of the Family and Children’s Ombuds
https://ofco.wa.gov/

J. Kate Burkhart
Alaska State Ombudsman
https://ombud.alaska.gov/

Ann H. Adams
Office of Community Relations
(Ombudsman’s Office)
Connecticut Department of Children and Families
https://portal.ct.gov/DCF/OCR/Home

Jennifer Sheriff
Office of the Lucas County Ombudsman, Ohio

Marianna Abraham
Ombudsman
Child and Family Services Agency
Washington, D.C.
https://cfsa.dc.gov/service/be-heard

Moira O’Neill
New Hampshire Office of the Child Advocate
https://childadvocate.nh.gov/

Diane D. Welborn
Ombudsman,
Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio
www.dayton-ombudsman.org/

Kristie Hirschman
Ombudsman
Iowa Office of Ombudsman
https://www.legis.iowa.gov/Ombudsman/

Raven McKinley
Office of Foster Care Ombudsman
Texas Health and Human Services
hhs.texas.gov/ombudsman

Maria Z. Mossaides
Massachusetts Office of the Child Advocate
https://www.mass.gov/orgs/office-of-the-child-advocate

By Stephanie Villafuerte

April 16, 2020

As the United States and other countries around the world race to delay the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Coloradans, like millions of others around the globe, have been required to engage in a relatively new practice called “social distancing.”

One must look no further than social media — where the hashtag, #StayAtHome, has been featured in millions of Facebook posts, tweets and Instagram messages. Everywhere we look there are reminders – even pleas – to stay home, stop the spread of COVID-19 and stay healthy. In a matter of weeks, our culture has shifted. We’ve acknowledged that separating from others – family, friends, support networks – is no longer a courtesy, but rather a life or death decision. We’ve been asked to make “social distancing” a part of our lives.

While the term “social distancing” was designed to encourage physical distancing between us, the words have the power to create emotional isolation, loneliness and even despair. For families and children who rely on supports and services typically provided outside the home, this imprecise term could stir disaster.

While “social distancing” requires that we keep six feet apart from one another physically, the words create an emotional gulf that threatens the stability of Colorado children and families.

Now more than ever, parents and families need support. Parents are facing tremendous challenges including, financial instability, food insecurity, unemployment, lack of childcare, little or no healthcare, all while an insidious and dangerous virus lurks just outside their doorstep. Parents need to hear that while physical distance is critically important to the health of themselves and their families, they can — and should — seek social and emotional support.

During the past weeks, child protection professionals across the country have witnessed a sharp decline in the number of child abuse and neglect reports being filed across the country.

Every April, the child protection community comes together for Child Abuse Prevention Month to discuss how we can improve the services we’re providing families and decrease incidents of child abuse and neglect. This work has never been more important as the implementation of stay-at-home orders — while crucial for our health — have also placed some children in substantial risk.

Statistics show that, in Colorado alone, the child abuse hotline is receiving almost half as many calls as usual. The decline occurred immediately after schools closed and our mandatory reporters — teachers, coaches and childcare providers — were no longer able to see children and report their concerns to authorities about child safety. The concern expressed by many is that social isolation combined with increased family stress will lead to increased rates of child abuse and neglect.

So let’s look at our words. Now more than ever we need to remember to stay socially connected and physically distant from one another. The difference is critical so that our friends, neighbors and families will seek one another out and give and get the support they need during these difficult times. Words are powerful. Their meaning impactful. Words can provide the courage to press on, or be one more reason to give up. While we must physically distance ourselves from one another right now, we must work harder than ever to stay connected.

By Stephanie Villafuerte

Colorado Child Protection Ombudsman

March 25, 2020 (Published in the Colorado Sun March 29, 2020)

Thank you for coming to work today. Like many of us, you woke up this week and saw a tragedy unfolding. The world as we know it altered – off course – leaving thousands of people without basic food, shelter, and health care. Like many of us you were scared. But you showed up anyway to care for Colorado’s children and families during this time of crisis.

You don’t know me, but you may have heard of my office. Every day the Office of Colorado’s Child Protection Ombudsman bears witness to your work. While our roles often look different, we all work toward the same goal. Which is why I’m reaching out to thank you for all you do to protect our children and strengthen our families every day, but especially today, when the uncertainty of this crisis is overwhelming, and people need you more than ever.

On a “normal day” you are the first responders to abused and neglected children. Today, as other social systems are failing, you are the ones holding the safety net together – tightly and with both hands. You are meticulously working to ensure children are safe, families are fed, health care is available and the most vulnerable among us are taken care of. Like so many other first responders—doctors, nurses, police officers—you remain on the front lines responding to the calls for help — silent heroes answering the call of humanity.

It’s hard to believe that only two weeks ago the lives of Coloradans, as well as millions of people around the world, would be devastated by the proliferation of the COVID-19 virus. For none is this truer than for Colorado children and families already living at the margins. Low-income families, foster families, adoptive families, the elderly and of course our youngest citizens — Colorado children.

During the past several days, I’ve learned of your bravery, sacrifice and your struggles as you maintain the safety net for Colorado children and families.

I’ve learned of your perseverance, working tirelessly and round the clock to process thousands of new applications for food, cash and medical assistance. I’ve heard of your dedication, responding in-person to child abuse calls without gloves, hand sanitizer or masks. I’ve awed at the ingenuity of caseworkers wearing homemade masks and washing their hands at their cars, using bars of soap and water bottles. I’m overwhelmed by the devotion you’ve show to our elderly population, working to provide guidance and respond to concerns regarding their care and needs in the face of this virus.

What many citizens don’t know and what many will never need to know, is that the Colorado human service system works well. It is quietly, diligently and constantly working to protect families and children most of us will never know.

The work you do is hard and often thankless. But today, as you venture out once more, myself and my staff – on behalf of all Coloradans – thank you.