Sage Home And Covid-19
By Remington Stoddard
Recently, I was able to sit down (socially distanced, of course) with a friend who is a professional in the child welfare system. We chatted about Sage Home, the pandemic, child welfare, how those things are connected, and where Sage Home can intervene. We discussed the many impacts of the pandemic, how Sage Home can be of assistance, and a few additional resources that may be useful.
Social and Economic Stressors
It’s no secret that the pandemic has created a financial strain for individuals all over the country. What we don’t always see is how devastating its impact has been on individuals who were already struggling economically before the pandemic began. Many folks living paycheck to paycheck before this year have now lost their jobs, which can lead to a loss of essentials such as food, housing, and medical care. A pandemic alone is extremely stressful. Worrying about where you are going to sleep at night, where your next meal will come from, or how you will obtain medical care if necessary, makes things even more difficult. Many social service professionals have already begun to see the impacts of these stressors and the effects of isolation. With increases in domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, substance abuse, and other various mental illnesses, the pandemic is taking its toll on families worldwide.
Violence
According to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the economic devastation and the lockdowns to prevent the spread of disease “may stimulate violence in families where it didn’t exist before and worsen situations in homes where mistreatment and violence has been a problem.” This violence is not limited to partners, but may also extend to children and other members living in the home. This increased violence, combined with children being less visible in their communities due to distant learning, puts them at a much higher risk of abuse and neglect. SAMHSA also explains that impacts of such violence will not dissipate when the pandemic fades. Violence in the home leads to a higher risk of chronic disease, and adverse mental health outcomes such as Depression, PTSD, and substance abuse. Many individuals who may otherwise be able to escape, are trapped at home with their abusers due to lockdowns, over capacity shelters, and fear of spreading the virus. This impacts not just the home, but will have a ripple effect in the community as well.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse
The isolation, although necessary, is proving to have many adverse impacts on mental health. Individuals have lost access to formal and informal supports such as friends, family, schools, faith communities, and workplaces. This lack of support makes it increasingly difficult for individuals who already struggle with sobriety to obtain the tools they need to continue on that path. According to the CDC, substance abuse, depression, and suicide rates have all increased since the onset of COVID-19.
How Sage Home Can Help
Sadly, the pandemic will likely continue to exist when Sage Home opens its doors in the coming year. The good news is, our services are specifically designed to meet the needs of folks who are the most at risk during this pandemic. Sage Home will be a place for mothers and their children to find safety and healing from substance abuse, depression, and violence. We will offer programs to address struggles with mental illness, and our comprehensive program provides housing, which will be a huge burden off the shoulders of the families we will serve. We cannot wait for Sage Home to open because we know numerous families who will be able to benefit from our services. Our programming will provide much needed support to families on their journey to sobriety, stability, and health.
If you are struggling during COVID-19, here are some resources and further reading that may be helpful for you:
COVID-19 Has Harmful Effects on Children in Low-Income Families, Researchers Find
Coronavirus Tips & Resources for Parents, Children, Educators & Others
About Remington Stoddard:
Remington is a board member here at Sage Home. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from Northern Arizona University and currently works as the Communications Director for Morningstar Foundation, an organization that helps families with severe heart disease in children get life-saving medical treatments. From 2018-2019 Remington was an Adoption Specialist for the Department of Child Safety and saw first-hand how broken the child welfare system is. Remington is passionate about keeping families together by preventing child removal through a community approach.
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