With schools closed, reports to Mecklenburg County DSS have dropped 43%

CHARLOTTE — With school buildings officially closed for the rest of the school year, a light is shining more than ever on vulnerable families.

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“The Department of Social Services has a huge responsibility because of the fact that we serve the most vulnerable populations, particularly when you talk about the needs of children, as well as older adults, as well as those that struggle with their economics,” said Dr. Jacqueline McKnight, the Mecklenburg County deputy director of Child and Family Services. “We really have to lean in in a very different way.”

One of the trends to emerge during this unprecedented time is a decrease in reports to child protective services in Mecklenburg County. The number of reports to DSS between the time schools closed and April 17 has dropped 43% when compared to the same time last year.

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“It was actually identified pretty early in the stay-at-home order that we saw a reduction,” said McKnight. “Particularly when you have many of the professional reporters not available. We want to believe that children are being served and taken care of well by their family members, however, we also recognize that this is an extremely stressful time for most families. We have seen an increase in challenges with regard to domestic violence and how that could, in fact, play itself out with children.”

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Channel 9 reported in early April that the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said that since March 26, domestic violence calls have jumped about 20%.

McKnight said they're partnering with the school district and medical community to reach families in need of support.

"We actually are prepared to work with CMS around any of the students that they have not been able to gain access to,” she said. “We do believe that some of the resources we have within the department could actually help to locate some of the families and support from that perspective."

State Superintendent Mark Johnson said addressing the social and emotional well-being of students right now is something a new task force will work on.

“Normally, a student would come to school and a teacher or a counselor might see the warning signs,” he said. “But you’re right, now those students are at home, so we are really diving into ... how is that we’re going to identify those situations?”

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