Response to COVID-19

Photograph of students in a classroom looking up

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended lives on campus, in Cleveland and around the world. The Schubert Center team is focused on the ways in which we can help improve the lives of children and are thinking purposefully about next steps. While we are disappointed to have cancelled the Spring 2020 events, we are engaging in critical policy work, teaching and mentoring our students, and adjusting our research efforts to accommodate the current crisis. This page is designed to collect the work of our Faculty Associates and community partners, and to provide the Schubert Center community with access to resources.

At the end of March, Schubert Center Director Anastasia Dimitropoulos reached out to our community in a recent message. With so many changes and shutdowns, the needs of our community’s most vulnerable have increased dramatically. Policy Director Gabriella Celeste’s work at the beginning of the COVID-19 challenge to addressing these needs, particularly for children in institutional care.  Institutional care presents unique challenges for social distancing and protecting our youth; Gabriella has worked to urge public administrators to take protective and proactive measures to address the needs of vulnerable children and youth in care, and asking legislators to consider adding provisions to Ohio’s COVID-19 legislative package to protect youth in these circumstances. The center issued a statement of concern that is regularly updated.

While some research has paused or been readjusted during the shutdown, many new research efforts at Case Western Reserve University are beginning in response to the pandemic. At the center, we plan to engage in these discussions and collaborate on these efforts to ensure our city’s most vulnerable children and families are included in examining the scope of the effects of the pandemic. Many of our faculty associates have already published research that is very relevant right now. We are gathering these papers and will make them available on our website in the coming weeks.

Center Statements

Media Mentions and Appearances

Research

Intimate Partner Violence in the Adolescent – Review article co-authored by Ellen S. Rome, MD, MPH

Tip Sheets from University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital

Additional Resources

Lead Poisoning Prevention Tips during COVID-19, a resource sheet prepared by the Ohio Lead-Free Kids Coalition.

CWRU Center on Trauma and Adversity is currently conducting a study examining #COVID19 pandemic effects on emotional well-being and coping strategies. Volunteers are needed to complete the online survey.