Children and Youth Living with Family Violence
The COVID-19 crisis is increasing risk for those living in homes where there is family violence. Social isolation, disrupted routines, possible financial and/or food insecurity, suspension of in-person schooling and ongoing uncertainty are exacerbating dangerous conditions for some children and youth who may not already be considered at risk.
Children and youth who experience physical, sexual, family violence and/or neglect no longer have a safe refuge at school or access to a trusted adult to talk to in person and watch out for them. An increase in mental health concerns for parents can impact children and youth, putting them at higher risk for family violence and child abuse.
Frontline agencies such as Kids Help Phone have seen a significant increase in children and youth accessing their services. There has been a 28% increase in conversations about physical abuse, 42% increase about anxiety or stress and a 48% increase about isolation (Kids Help Phone, 2020).
News Release
Launch of resource for educators on child and youth family violence during the time of COVID-19
OTTAWA, April 22, 2020—During this time of national crisis some members of our society are more adversely impacted than others. These include children and youth who may be at higher risk for family violence and related challenges created by isolation and other factors. Regular in person means of identifying and supporting these young people, especially through the education system as we move to online classes, are now less available, so alternatives are required.
Responding to this need, Senator Stanley Kutcher (Nova Scotia) and Dr. Wendy Carr (UBC) have worked with educational and child/youth facing agencies to create a support tool to help educators, counsellors, administrators and others in their virtual communication and outreach to at risk children and youth.
Freely available online in both English and French at http://educ.ubc.ca/SOS, this resource was developed with input from Children First Canada, Kids Help Phone and education partners in the Province of British Columbia (UBC Faculty of Education, British Columbia Teachers’ Federation, BC School Superintendents Association, and BC School Counsellors Association). It is strongly supported by members of the Senate who have direct experience in education, social work and/or medicine.
As of today, this resource is being made widely and freely available in the hope that educators will find it helpful as they work to address the holistic needs of their students during this time of crisis.
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