OP-ED: COVID-19 is putting more children at risk of abuse. Here’s what we can do
Read our newest op-ed by Sophie Phillips, TexProtects CEO on the Dallas Morning-News.
"With 80% of Child Protective Services cases addressing neglect rather than abuse, it’s clear that Texas families need support more often than they need protection. We currently have a $2 billion budget focused on protection, and the outcomes from that investment may not be the ones we want. Meanwhile, families, many of whom were already struggling, are facing additional stressors from COVID-19, including unemployment, substance use challenges, mental health concerns, and limited access to emotional support or concrete needs. When families are unwell, children are at risk. ... We have the chance to show through our policy and practice where our values lie. Will we invest in children and families, or will we wait to respond only when crisis and trauma have occurred?"
Thank you to the Orange Leader for also publishing this piece.
