Closing Kentucky schools protects kids from COVID-19. But dangers at home may increase
Kentucky has shut down its schools to keep children safe from the coronavirus, but as school closures extend through April, children could be exposed to other dangers in their homes, child safety advocates say.
For the second year in a row, Kentucky had the highest child abuse rate in America in 2018, the latest year of data released in January by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. In Kentucky, 23 out of every 1,000 children were abused, according to the data. The national average was 9.2 out of every 1,000.
More parents are out of work because of businesses closing to stop the spread of the coronavirus, and that can lead to more abuse, said Melynda Jamison, executive director of Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children of Lexington.
“Times like these can be stressful, and when individuals are out of work and there’s not income coming in, research shows that can lead to more stress,” she said.
Jamison said that stress “can lead to not great decisions.”
The victims are spending more time around their abusers at the same time they are not being seen by teachers and other adults at school who may recognize a problem, Jamison said.
“With folks being in the home, you might not have as many eyes on anyone,” Jamison said.
CASA of Lexington, which has volunteers who support and assist children in child abuse cases, has had to be creative to make sure volunteers communicate with children. They’ve done video chat calls, phone calls, and some have sent letters and activities to children when kids don’t have the resources to talk over the phone, Jamison said.
“Everybody’s doing the best we can, I believe, in being creative,” Jamison said.
Jamison said she expects an uptick in cases when children return to school, where a teacher or other adult sees and reports signs of abuse. She said CASA will be busy at that point.
“We’re going to need CASA volunteers more than ever when we come out at the end of coronavirus,” Jamison said.
Jamison is worried about how much cases will spike if schools remain closed and don’t open on time in August.
“That’s what keeps me awake at night,” she said. “. . . Our community has to step up, but unfortunately, every situation is different,” she said.
Jamison said Kentucky residents need to vigilant if schools are closed longer. She said teachers can often notice warning signs of child abuse because they spend so much time around children. Neighbors, relatives, babysitters and others should be aware of potential child abuse while schools are closed, she said, and know how to report abuse, which can be done online at https://prdweb.chfs.ky.gov/ReportAbuse/ or by calling Kentucky’s child abuse hotline number 1-877-597-2331. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Kentucky State Police said it wasn’t yet clear if there has been an increase in child abuse cases since schools closed. The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services didn’t immediately respond to questions.
“We feel it’s incredibly valuable to remind parents, caregivers, and guardians to remain vigilant as they continue to keep their children safe,” Trooper Robert Purdy said.
Another danger to children at home is guns. Guns are prevalent in Kentucky. Safety advocates fear children at home more with guns could lead to accidents.
Lexington police have not seen an increase in accidental shootings involving children since schools closed, according to Brenna Angel, spokeswoman for the Lexington Police Department. But the risk is high, some say.
Over half of all adults in Kentucky own guns, and 64% of those who own guns leave them loaded and unlocked in their home, according to the Kentucky Health Issues Poll by the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky and Interact for Health.
Guns are the second-leading cause of death among children and teens in Kentucky, behind only car accidents, according to research done by Everytown For Gun Safety.
Moms Demand Action has looked to educate people on gun safety at home through the organization’s “Be SMART” campaign. Julia Finch, the Lexington lead for Be SMART, said education from that program is critically important with kids home every day. Volunteers and other members do gun safety lectures and presentations, Finch said.
Finch said gun owners need to be responsible, making sure kids cannot find firearms in the house.
“When we talk about safe storage, the typical baseline for safe storage practice is that your weapon is stored separately from your ammunition, both locked,” she said.
Finch said that parents should also be aware of gun safety in homes their children visit, including a babysitter’s or a friend’s house. Parents should ask if there are any guns in the home and if the guns are secured.
“We’re fearful for kids who are curious,” Finch said. “. . . We know kids are very curious and have a lot of time on their hands inside these days.”
Rick Strohmeier, a concealed carry instructor certified by the Kentucky State Police and a former military police officer, has previously emphasized the importance of gun safety around children.
“There’s no excuse for you to have a loaded weapon laying around the house with a child there,” Strohmeier said.
Going beyond gun security, Finch said it’s important to make sure kids are being properly cared for during a time of uncertainty.
“I think it’s extremely important that we don’t lose perspective on safety in the middle of all this,” she said. “Especially children’s safety in the middle of all this.”
This story was originally published April 10, 2020 at 1:44 PM.