Parent Child Center Of Tulsa Sees Increase In Reports Of Child Abuse Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

The Child Abuse Network says the number of children receiving services has gone up 26% in the past year.

The Parent Child Center of Tulsa says this is an expected increase as children start to go back to their daily lives where they are looked after daily by people who can monitor changes in their appearance or behavior.

Kimberly Parker with the PCC says during the pandemic they saw child neglect and child abuse became more common due to the extra stressors on parents and caregivers. She says most of that abuse likely went unreported because the children weren’t in school or going to doctor's appointments where they are monitored.

“It could be any type of abuse or neglect,” Parker said. “Verbal abuse, shaming, blaming, yelling, putting down, as well as hitting and also sexual abuse.”

Parker Told News On 6 that now that normal activities have resumed, the physical and emotional damage done to the children is being questioned when it is spotted.

“Now we are seeing those reporting places open back up and children are being seen again by those mandated reporters, so I think this is the increase we anticipated would be happening after covid,” Parker said.

In the last year, Tulsa County had more than 3,000 reports of child abuse. Parker said they expect the numbers to only go up within the next year. She said they often see abuse in younger children.

“I think when abuse or neglect does happen to an infant or young child it’s much more severe and more likely to lead to death,” Parker said.

Parker told News On 6 that it’s easy as a caregiver to feel overwhelmed but you can always get help at parentchildcenter.org or call (918)-599-7999.