Impacts of health-related school closures on child protection outcomes: A review of evidence from past pandemics and epidemics and lessons learned for COVID-19

. 2021 May 9;84:102431. doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2021.102431

Supporting victims of violence through online and phone-based psychosocial support
In 2015, South Africa developed reporting protocols as part of its National School Safety Framework, which is a guide for schools, districts and provinces ‘on a common approach to achieving a safe and healthy school environment’. This comprehensive framework comprises reporting protocols and clear guidelines on how to provide psychosocial support services for various cases, including violent crime such as physical assault, sexual assault/ rape; bullying/teasing and also in the case of property crime, robbery and carrying or possession of alcohol and other drugs (Makota and Leoschut, 2016). A child safeguarding policy has also been established by Vanuatu Ministry of Education and Training. The policy includes guidance on who can report, what and when to report, who to report to and possible outcomes, including the child’s medical, psychosocial and safety needs assessment (Vanuatu Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), 2017). To mitigate the cessation of some of the protection and support services offered through schools during COVID-19, such as protection against violence, mental health and psychosocial support programmes, online and phone initiatives have been used to support students. In Egypt and Bhutan, more than 300 children received remote psychosocial support during school closure through phone services and online platforms set up in response to COVID-19 pandemic. Given the increase in domestic violence in Mexico, the Ministry of Interior, the Secretariat for the Comprehensive Child Protection System, the Welfare Agency and UNICEF have partnered to train 911 operators on how to deal with calls regarding children, how to listen to them and where to refer them (UNICEF, 2020f). In addition, with support from Child Helpline International, four videos and four infographics were designed on psychological first aid, active listening and prompt detection of signs of violence at home (UNICEF, 2020c). Similarly, the existing Helpline 150 in Kazakhstan introduced a WhatsApp number to report violence against children along with a dissemination of cell phone contacts of child rights focal points in the regional authorities (2020c).

Supporting victims of violence through online and phone-based psychosocial support

In 2015, South Africa developed reporting protocols as part of its National School Safety Framework, which is a guide for schools, districts and provinces ‘on a common approach to achieving a safe and healthy school environment’. This comprehensive framework comprises reporting protocols and clear guidelines on how to provide psychosocial support services for various cases, including violent crime such as physical assault, sexual assault/ rape; bullying/teasing and also in the case of property crime, robbery and carrying or possession of alcohol and other drugs (Makota and Leoschut, 2016). A child safeguarding policy has also been established by Vanuatu Ministry of Education and Training. The policy includes guidance on who can report, what and when to report, who to report to and possible outcomes, including the child’s medical, psychosocial and safety needs assessment (Vanuatu Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), 2017).
To mitigate the cessation of some of the protection and support services offered through schools during COVID-19, such as protection against violence, mental health and psychosocial support programmes, online and phone initiatives have been used to support students. In Egypt and Bhutan, more than 300 children received remote psychosocial support during school closure through phone services and online platforms set up in response to COVID-19 pandemic. Given the increase in domestic violence in Mexico, the Ministry of Interior, the Secretariat for the Comprehensive Child Protection System, the Welfare Agency and UNICEF have partnered to train 911 operators on how to deal with calls regarding children, how to listen to them and where to refer them (UNICEF, 2020f). In addition, with support from Child Helpline International, four videos and four infographics were designed on psychological first aid, active listening and prompt detection of signs of violence at home (UNICEF, 2020c). Similarly, the existing Helpline 150 in Kazakhstan introduced a WhatsApp number to report violence against children along with a dissemination of cell phone contacts of child rights focal points in the regional authorities (2020c).