ISPCAN COVID-19 WEBINAR SERIES Child Welfare and Pandemics: What We Know and What We Can Do Webinar Presentation Child Welfare and Pandemics Friday April 3, 2020 10:00 a.m. MDT / 12:00 p.m. EDT https://www.ispcan.org/
Child Welfare and Pandemics D R . B A R B A R A FA L LO N 1 D R . D E L P H I N E C O L L I N - V É Z I N A 2 D R . S T E V E N M I L L E R 3 D R . M A R I N A S I S TOVA R I S 1 1 U N I V E R S I T Y O F T O R O N T O 2 M C G I L L U N I V E R S I T Y 3 T H E H O S P I T A L F O R S I C K C H I L D R E N & T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F T O R O N T O
Policy Bench Committee Policy Bench Co-Leads: Barbara Fallon, Ph.D. Steven Miller, M.D. Professor Head of Neurology Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work Division of Neurology University of Toronto The Hospital for Sick Children Policy Bench Advisory Committee: Faye Mishna, Ph.D. Catherine Birken, M.D. Jennifer Jenkins, Ph.D Professor Staff Pediatrician Professor Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work Pediatric Medicine Department of Applied Psychology and University of Toronto The Hospital for Sick Children Human Development University of Toronto Joel Levine, Ph.D. Avram Denburg, M.D. Marla Sokolowski, Ph.D. Professor Staff Oncologist and Clinical Scientist Professor Department of Biology The Hospital for Sick Children Department of Cell and Systems Biology University of Toronto University of Toronto Barbara Fallon, Ph.D. Steven Miller, M.D. Suzanne Stewart, Associate Professor Professor Head of Neurology Director of the Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work The Hospital for Sick Children Indigenous Health University of Toronto Social and Behavioural Health Sciences Division Dalla Lana School of Public Health University of Toronto Principal Researcher: Marina Sistovaris, Ph.D. Research Associate Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work University of Toronto POLICY BENCH, FRASER MUSTARD INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
POLICY BENCH Fraser Mustard Institute for Human Development • The Policy Bench is an initiative of the Fraser Mustard Institute for Human Development (FMIHD). Dr. J. Fraser Mustard (1927-2011) galvanized the international community with his belief that interventions in the early years of life offer unparalleled potential for improved quality of life. • The FMIHD honours Dr. Mustard’s legacy through key initiatives such as the Policy Bench that support the University of Toronto academic community by providing transdisciplinary opportunities for collaboration and knowledge mobilization in the area of human development. • The Policy Bench brings together leaders at the University of Toronto and SickKids with transdisciplinary expertise from an array of academic disciplines─ranging from health, psychology, education, economics and medical sciences─ to support optimal human development and health equity across the life course, from the early years into adulthood. This involves the synthesis, creation and dissemination of knowledge designed to assist decision makers, practitioners and relevant stakeholders in making evidence based policy decisions that improve outcomes for children and youth. POLICY BENCH, FRASER MUSTARD INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
Presentation Overview 1. Methodology 2. The Dynamics of a Pandemic 3. COVID-19 Pandemic 4. A Socio-Ecological Approach to Child Protection During Pandemics 5. Leading Child Protection Risks During Pandemics, UNICEF 6. Emerging COVID-19 Concerns: A Child Welfare Perspective from the U.S. 7. Policy Implications: Designing Appropriate Child Protection Strategies 8. Concluding Remarks POLICY BENCH, FRASER MUSTARD INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
Introduction Child Welfare and Pandemics: Literature Scan • Literature scan was conducted on the topic of child welfare and pandemics, focused on potential policy solutions that could mitigate the impact on children in the care of Canada’s child welfare system. • Document available online: https://cwrp.ca/publications/child-welfare- and-pandemics-literature-scan • Brief summary also available online: https://cwrp.ca/publications/child- welfare-and-pandemics-information-sheet POLICY BENCH, FRASER MUSTARD INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
Methodology • Search Time Frame: Literature search conducted between March 16, 2020 and March 19, 2020. • Search Keywords/Phrases: pandemics; COVID-19; children; policy; mitigation • List of keywords/search terms was developed by examining: abstracts; government documents; and subject headings and phrases. • Throughout the search process, keywords/search terms were added, deleted or modified as different terms were discovered to improve the search strategy. • Data Sources: peer-reviewed journals found in electronic databases; internet based grey literature POLICY BENCH, FRASER MUSTARD INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
The Dynamics of a Pandemic Global disease outbreak. Compared to an outbreak or epidemic, a pandemic: affects a wider geographical area, often worldwide; infects a greater number of people than an epidemic; is often caused by a new virus or a strain of virus is wider in scope because humans usually have little to no immunity against it; spreads quickly from person-to-person worldwide; causes much higher numbers of deaths than epidemics; and creates social disruption, economic loss, and general hardship. 1 POLICY BENCH, FRASER MUSTARD INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
COVID-19 Pandemic Origin: Wuhan, China (2019) 2 Pandemic March 11, 2020 declared pandemic by Status: World Health Organization 3 Description: highly transmittable and pathogenic viral infection caused SARS-CoV-2 2 Symptoms: flu-like symptoms, cough, fever, can be asymptomatic 4 Countries 200 countries and territories (as of Affected: March 30, 2020) 4 Infected: 785,712 (as of March 30, 2020) 4 Recovered: 165,606 (as of March 30, 2020) 4 Deaths: 37,814 (as of March 30, 2020) 4 Mortality Rate: 3.4% (as of March 30, 2020) 4 POLICY BENCH, FRASER MUSTARD INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
Socio-Ecological Impact of COVID-19 18 Family separation, reduced access to Erosion of social capital; social supports, caregiver distress, Disruption or limited access heightened risk of violence/domestic to basic services abuse Disruption to livelihood; Disrupted family connections and support; Fear of the disease Soc ocio iocultu tural al Child ld Soc ocie iety Comm mmunity ity Family mily Norms ms Heightened risks to child of abuse, neglect, violence, exploitation, psychological Stigma against distress and negative certain groups impact on development Breakdown of trust; Competition over scarce resources; Limited access to community support services, education and play spaces POLICY BENCH, FRASER MUSTARD INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
Leading Child Protection Risks During Pandemics, UNICEF 7 Neglect and Lack of Parental Care Mental Health and Psychosocial Distress Increased Exposure to Violence, Including Sexual Violence, Physical and Emotional Abuse POLICY BENCH, FRASER MUSTARD INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
Emerging COVID-19 Concerns: A Child Welfare Perspective from the U.S. • Increase in Maltreatment Cases • Poor Nutrition • Decrease in Home Services • Reduced Availability of Substance Use Disorders Programs • Reduced Visitation and Reunification Services • Delays in Court Appearances/Proceedings • Decreased Protection of Youth with Pre-Existing Conditions • Foster Parent Employment • Possible Spike in “Re - Placement” Needs • Health of Elder Caregivers • Outbreaks at Institutional Settings • Displaced Foster Youth Living on College Campuses 5 POLICY BENCH, FRASER MUSTARD INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
Policy Implications: Designing Appropriate Child Protection Strategies • Increased Coordination and Collaboration • Child Specific Programming • Residential Care • Strengthening Child Welfare Systems Before, During and After Pandemics 8,9 POLICY BENCH, FRASER MUSTARD INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
Increased Coordination and Collaboration 8,9 Livelihoods Shelter Food Security Child Protection Water, Sanitation, Education Hygiene Health Nutrition POLICY BENCH, FRASER MUSTARD INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
Child Specific Programming • Individual and Group Activities for Child Well Being • Strengthening Family and Caregiving Environments • Community-Level Approaches • Case Management • Alternative Care 8,9 POLICY BENCH, FRASER MUSTARD INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
Residential Care • Youth living in residential facilities have a high risk of infection with viruses because of communal living arrangements. Children and youth with pre-existing • health conditions are at a heightened risk of infection. • Pandemic plans should include measures: • for dealing with the need to quarantine youth or staff; • for large relocation of children; and • with agreed-upon medical centers to take children to in an emergency situation. 10,11,12 POLICY BENCH, FRASER MUSTARD INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
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