Child Victim Services in the Time of COVID-19: New Challenges and Innovative Solutions
Abstract
The impact of COVID-19 has been felt by all facets of the criminal justice systemand victim services agencies. The abilityto monitor and report maltreatment hasbeen severely limited for organizations that work with children of abuse andneglect; this is particularly troubling given that abuse and neglect are likely torise during times of distress and turmoil. The purpose of this paper is to discussthe importance of organizations that work with children exposed to maltreatment,highlight the novel approach of Child Advocacy Services, SEGA, Inc.(CASSEGA), the sponsoring agency for Court Appointed Special Advocates(CASA) and the Ogeechee Visitation Centers, in rural southeast Georgia andhow the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged this work, and develop strategiesthat can be put into place to alleviate these challenges for other child-servicing organizations.
