By Greg Ellison

(April 23, 2020) With schools shuttered during the covid-19 pandemic child advocates with the Cricket Center are concerned that reports of maltreatment could climb whenever classrooms are reopened.

Cricket Center Executive Director Wendy Myers said although shelter-in-place directives during the past month have contributed to a spike in domestic abuse cases, for now the numbers of child abuse referrals has remained relatively steady.

“We haven’t seen an increase in neglect or abuse cases,” she said. “What we’re seeing a huge increase of is domestic violence incidents in the county, but we know on the other side of this there’s going to be a lot of trauma.”

Based in Berlin since August 2009, the Cricket Center provides a central location for agencies authorized to investigate child abuse claims in Worcester County.

Myers said the concern is that children who are vulnerable to abuse and neglect are now spending every waking moment at home, potentially with their abuser, while losing direct contact with educators or peers.

“Once children get back into the community, once their teachers start seeing them again … that’s when we know we really got to be geared up and ready to go,” she said.

Mirroring national statistics, about 80-90 percent of reported cases in Worcester County involve abuse from a person known and trusted by the child, Myers said.

“There’s a lot of added stressors that are occurring in the homes right now and that all contributes to domestic violence and incidents of child abuse,” she said.

The issue is brought to the forefront every April during National Child Abuse Prevention Month, which seeks to raise awareness and prevent maltreatment.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides funding for the annual National Child Abuse Prevention Month through its Children’s Bureau.

Myers said the national effort to promote “strong and thriving families” employs a pinwheel graphic in advertising.

“The pinwheel is the symbol of child abuse awareness month,” she said. “It reminds us of the happy and carefree childhood we want every child to experience.”

Myers also encouraged parents to adopt measures to aid youths in processing societal safeguards enacted to stem the covid-19 pandemic.

“Kids are hearing scary things and maybe adults are not really explaining things to them,” she said. “Adults sometimes withhold information rather than telling kids the truth in age-appropriate ways.”

Myers said still-developing minds respond to high stress moments differently than adults.

“When you hear the news, it might be misinterpreted,” she said. “It’s really important to reassure kids about their safety.”

Myers said regardless of age, levels of concern tend to increase exponentially during a time of widespread fear. That is especially so when reliable information is not available.

“Your imagination kind of takes control and the same thing happens with kids,” she said.

Parents should watch for behavioral clues their kids are having problems managing emotions during the covid-19 pandemic.

“Kids might be irritable or clingy and some might regress,” she said. “They might have trouble and change their eating or sleeping habits.”

Myers said many of the coping mechanisms recommended for parents apply equally for children.

“With adults, we need to do some of the same things, we need to maintain some type of schedule,” she said. “When things get too much, learn how to take a walk or get away from the stressor.”

Myers said despite the present health restrictions imposed because of covid-19, the Cricket Center remains available to investigate child abuse claims. The Life Crisis Center also is open to offer crisis intervention and violence prevention for children and adults throughout Worcester, Wicomico and Somerset counties.

“We’re all kind of adjusting to this new normal,” she said. “I think emotional changes are to be expected.”

For more information visit thecricketcenter.com or call 410-641-0097.

Additional resources are:

• The Life Crisis Center – 410-749-4357 or visit lifecrisiscenter.org
• National Domestic Violence Hotline – 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org
• Women’s Law Center of Maryland Inc. – 1-800-634-3577 or visit wlcmd.org
• Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence – 1-800-634-3577 or visit mnadv.org
• Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault – 410-974-4507 or visit mcasa.org