Homeschooling can be an effective form of education, yet our research has shown that the lack of oversight compared with other educational models can lead to devastating consequences for some homeschooled children even while others thrive. The Coalition for Responsible Home Education seeks to redress this problem by conducting original research into home education policy in the United States in order to inform child-centered, evidence-based policy and practices for families and professionals. In this presentation, we introduce our Homeschooling’s Invisible Children project, which collates and analyzes publicly documented instances of child abuse and neglect in homeschool environments. To date, we have cataloged nearly 500 cases of abuse and neglect and 214 child fatalities. In this workshop, we present our findings and what our data teach us about the unique risks of abuse homeschooled children face. We survey the types of abuse enabled by homeschool environments, and red flags associated with them (including patterns in withdrawal from school and prior social service history.) We conclude by operationalizing our findings into best practices for child advocacy practitioners who interface with homeschooled children.
Learning Objectives:
Understand themes in the abuse of homeschooled children
Recognize red flags suggestive of abuse in homeschool settings
Identify best practices for child welfare professionals to protect homeschooled children
