SANTA FE – A sharp decline in reports of child abuse and neglect in New Mexico at the outset of the coronavirus pandemic is prompting concerns that problems are going unnoticed while children stay home from school.
The accountability office of the Legislature said Monday that hotline reports of suspected child abuse and neglect declined by 42% in April and 33% in May compared with the same months in 2019.
Analysts say school closures mean that nurses and social workers have less contact with children that may provide clues about abuse and neglect. Across the U.S., about one-fifth of suspected child abuse complaints originate from school staff members.
“The loss of a key source of reporting, coupled with additional strains on families facing the financial and emotional hardships of the pandemic, has raised concerns that child abuse is surging unseen,” the Legislative Finance Committee staff said in a newsletter.
At the same time, the report warns about drawing quick conclusion about trends in abuse and notes that fewer reports might give investigators more time to effectively investigate credible complaints.
Legislators will be briefed on the report Wednesday. The Children, Youth and Families Department launched a publicity campaign at the outset of the pandemic that encourages people to report concerns of possible abuse and neglect.
