Domestic violence, the leading cause of homelessness among women and children, is increasing during the pandemic.
Domestic Violence
The chief of a domestic violence unit joined reporters from The Wall Street Journal and NBC News to share insights for covering this urgent story right now.
The Virginia Department of Social Services has seen a 50% drop in calls to the child abuse and neglect hotline since mid-March, but social workers are concerned that an increase in domestic violence and child abuse may be going unreported.
The four years I spent covering San Joaquin County included too many visits to homicide scenes and coroner’s name requests, but a cursory glance at the names and figures of the victims unsettled me.
“This decline in calls is unprecedented for Los Angeles County,” said one county official. “We are seeing similar trends across the state of California.”
Are parents whose children are being removed from their homes following allegations of abuse and neglect being billed for the cost of foster care and family reunification services? The signs suggest yes.
The Office of the Children’s Ombudsman will investigate complaints concerning the Virginia Department of Social Services and will have a heavy focus on foster care and child-placing decisions.
Domestic violence poses a dire public health threat, but in many Asian households it’s still viewed as a private family matter.
Sam Miller can help us understand how addiction and homelessness intersect because he’s lived them both. Plus he can make us laugh. He points to one reason he was able to overcome homelessness while many others get trapped.
This story was produced as part of a larger project led by Jessica Seaman, a participant in the 2019 National Fellowship.
Other stories in this series include:
The Denver Post launches project to investigate teen suicides in Colorado — and we need your help
Soup, sticky notes and other lies about su