Child abuse concerns grow as more stay home due to COVID-19

SHASTA COUNTY, Calif. — Child abuse could be on the rise in Shasta County, according to Child Services. The agency believes abuse has gone up since the stay-at-home order, even if the number of calls coming in from people in the community have gone down.

After a dangerous situation played out in Redding, Tuesday morning, where three children were taken to family services, KRCR reached out to Children's Services in Shasta County to see if there's been an increase in cases. While the county doesn't have the numbers yet, Director Nancy Bolen with Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency said there is concern that emotional and physical abuse has increased as children are home more and interacting with people who would be able to report the abuse less.

Director Bolen said it is more important now than ever to stick to your gut feeling if you see a situation where a child may be at risk.

"Please call. We take calls around the clock, every day. If it’s a worry, a concern, if you’re just not sure it’s still okay to call," Bolen emphasized. "We are all the eyes in the ears of the children in our community during this time. Children need all of us to be aware of their health and safety and we want to take your calls."

The county is working with school districts to check on students where there may be concern about their home life.

Director Bolen said the majority of the calls social workers are taking involve custody issues, specifically concerns over how each parent is exercising social distancing. They are also using technology such as Tele-therapy for children and children with foster families have been using things like FaceTime to keep in touch with their biological parents.