December 13, 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenging time for many families, particularly those involved with child welfare. Underreporting of child abuse and neglect, health risks to child welfare staff and families, delays in court hearings, service disruption, and economic impacts have been primary concerns during this unprecedented time. For this reason, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) conducted a study to assess the challenges child welfare agencies reported as a result of the pandemic; what these agencies are doing to mitigate these challenges, including the use of federal funds and other supports; and the practices agencies have implemented that may continue beyond the pandemic. Read the full article ...