Due to the pandemic, parents are exposed to more stressors on a daily basis such as adjusting to online schooling, lack of having their basic needs met, and heightened financial strain. Parental stress can increase the risk of child maltreatment and/or affect children’s mental health.
Child maltreatment is even harder to identify and report during a pandemic due to schools and other child care centers closing or going completely remote. Additionally, family involvement for child advocacy centers and organizations that provide mental health treatment, training and case management to families where abuse has occurred have seen a decline in clients. Moving to remote therapy, or telehealth, puts another barrier to families that have had a past of domestic abuse and are trying to get help. Telehealth can sometimes be a lot of work since everything is online now and not all families will have the resources necessary to support an online therapy session.
These new obstacles and added strains can posed a lot of stress on parents that as a result can negatively affect children. Toxic parental stress and abuse in the home contribute to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Children that experience ACEs have higher risks to develop certain diseases such as high blood pressure, mental health problems, diabetes, and even cancer when they are adults.
Reducing ACEs by supporting the communities and the adults in children’s lives can help decrease their risks of developing cardiovascular diseases, depression, diabetes, and so much more. Exchange Family Center’s mission to makes children’s lives better by strengthening their families, teachers, and communities through proven counseling, coaching, and training aims to reduce Adverse Childhood Experiences. During the beginning of the pandemic, we saw a decline in the families that we served through telehealth. However, we adapted to the situation and improvised ways to connect with families and clients in this new normal. One of the ways that therapist have stepped up to support families was by dropping off puzzles and activities for families to do together.
Supporting families and helping prevent ACEs can be a challenge during a pandemic but Exchange Family Center will keep finding ways to reach out to families and to move forward despite facing obstacles.
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