The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | January 2021
In times of Crisis : Preventing Child Abuse , Domestic Violence and Youth Suicide through a trauma-informed healing-centered approach
Christine Norbut Beyer , MSW , Commissioner , New Jersey Department of Children and Families
The New Jersey Department of Children and Families is a state agency dedicated to helping families to stay safe , healthy , and connected . During the last nine months , we have witnessed the challenges brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic and how they have amplified the needs of so many residents throughout New Jersey .
The economic and social impact to the state has been profound . Families who may never have had to seek supports or social services from state and community agencies find themselves having to do so for the very first time . As we continue to deal with the social effects during this second wave of the pandemic , families and full communities continue feeling destabilized , isolated , struggling financially , and forced to make difficult decisions , such as having to choose between paying rent or buying food .
Research and field experts tell us , and we know from our daily practice , that in times of crisis and national emergencies , incidents of child abuse , domestic violence and sexual assault tend to rise . It is why COVID-19 is said to have created what has been referred to as a parallel pandemic . In New Jersey , we saw evidence of this early on with an increase in calls to the domestic violence hotline up 14 % during the first five months of the pandemic when compared to last year during the same time .
In contrast , we saw reports of child abuse and neglect plummet in the first months of the pandemic , to nearly half of what we had received one year prior . In September and October , with many schools returning at least in part for hybrid learning , reporting numbers began to normalize , but still lagged behind the same point in time in the previous year . While we ' re still seeing fewer reports of abuse and neglect than the previous year , the increase in reporting in September and October does reaffirm the importance of our system partners who have their “ eyes ” on children and families , such as neighbors , teachers , healthcare workers and law enforcement .
Another concern among health experts is that stay-at-home and social distancing orders , along with remote learning has profoundly impacted the physical and psychological health of many young people . We know that youth naturally depend on their peers and the social connections with caring adults in their lives , which help to support healthy brain development and resilience . A recent Centers for Disease Control survey revealed that from March through June , as the pandemic took hold , the rates of anxiety and depression rose sharply when compared to the same time period the previous year . Of the survey respondents , 11 % had “ seriously considered ” suicide within the last 30 days , while that number rose to an alarming 25 % in respondents between 18 to 24 years of age , or 1 in 4 . Another national survey conducted by the Trevor Project revealed that about 40 % of LGBTQ youth ages 10 to 24 had contemplated suicide in the last year , further underscoring the very real , and looming mental health crisis among youth .
In these unprecedented times , your partnership is as vital as ever . We recognize that law enforcement is often called first to respond to these tense environments . You represent one of our most critical and valued partners , helping us to prevent and proactively identify child maltreatment and family violence , often accompanying our case workers in the field during investigations .
As officers , you encounter families , not just when responding to crisis calls , but on walks , at the parks , shopping , restaurants , community and sporting events at schools . And as such , we ask that you continue to be extra vigilant and observant with the children , youth , and families who might be having a hard time right now .
There are many factors-- that help us to identify families who might be struggling . We know that families at risk of child abuse and domestic violence may include a parent ( s ) with small children or children with special needs , parents under extreme stress due to unemployment , unstable housing or food insecurity ; or parents with a history of substance use , violence or mental illness . Children at-risk may always appear to be unclean . They may try to hide injuries or have confusing explanations for how they got hurt . They may be hard to engage or seem unemotional . Youth that are struggling may demonstrate worrisome behaviors for longer than six months , such as acting out , seeming distant , becoming easily agitated , performing poorly in school , engaging in substance use or other risky social behaviors , running away or getting involved in gangs or human trafficking .
Adverse Childhood Experiences ( ACEs ), intergenerational abuse or neglect , unresolved trauma , and long-term toxic stress , can all place families at greater risk . We know law enforcement officers are not social workers . But we also know that sometimes you are the first to encounter youth or families that need help .
In New Jersey , we are all mandated reporters of abuse and neglect . Anyone who suspects child abuse and neglect must report it to the state hotline . We also recognize that when we meet families where they are and provide the necessary supports and service referrals - when most needed - we are positioning them to thrive and succeed .
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