The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed social engagement and economic security on a wide scale, ravaging communities of color and immigrant households that already struggled with poverty, housing instability and poor health. These challenges are heightened now, as parents and caregivers face disruptions in employment and pay, growing health concerns and new barriers to accessing affordable food, maintaining safe and stable housing, and meeting other critical necessities.

The inability to meet children’s basic needs can bring children and their families to the attention of the child welfare system. In fact, prior to COVID-19, more than two-thirds of allegations in reports of child maltreatment were related to concerns of neglect, often due to parents’ or caregivers’ inability to provide basic resources that children need such as food, clothing, shelter, health care, etc.