Child Welfare Policy - Research Paper Example

? Child Welfare Policy Child Welfare Policy Every child ought to have the chance to grow and develop as part of a caring and safe family, and studies indicate that affectionate family relations are fundamental to attaining positive results for children. Nonetheless, in a number of instances, parents or guardians fade extreme difficulties in their existence and require assistance to provide sufficient care for their children. If parents and guardians receive quality and sensible support during these periods, children are more probable to experience well-being and safety, and households have the chance to stay intact. Nevertheless, if such kind of assistance is not available, momentary impediments can turn into foremost catastrophes. Child welfare policy plays a significant part in offering essential help to households in need. While child welfare policy faces sizeable difficulties, significant opportunities are in place for enhancing the essential elements that have an impact on child well being and child safety; effective systems, supportive communities, and stable and safe households (Munro, 2008). This paper will look at historical and judicial subject of the policy, a relationship of the policy to my location and its implementation together with the goals, services, and or eligibility needs, and data as to the relations of the policy in an administration, organizational, and economical sense. Before 1978, close to 25% to 30% of children of Native American descent were taken from their parental care for alleged abuse or neglect. A large number of these Native American children were taken to non-Indian institutions, adoptive homes, and foster homes. Congress passed the Indian Child Welfare Act in 1978 to lessen the figure of Native American children from their households. In addition, an enhanced intervention was as a result of improved awareness of child abuse and child abuse reporting laws. By the final periods of 1970, the escalating number of children in prolonged foster care was highlighted in Congress, leading to the enactment of the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980. Congress also gave financial incentives for adoption for children who did not have the capacity to return home (Beckett, 2007). Also, Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act gave financial assistance for adoptive parents who adopted young ones with disabilities. All through the history of America, the child welfare system has been transformed according to shifting attitudes and beliefs about what tasks the government should undertake so as to care and protect the neglected and abused children. Previous government involvement on behalf of children requiring care was largely characterized by practicable troubles about the negative effects of neglect and abuse to the development of children. The significance of child protection got additional attention by government officials when public awareness about child neglect and the negative impact it had augmented. Also, each state has established their individual child welfare policy schedules. Under the constitution, the role of the government in child welfare is restricted (Polnay, 2001). Nonetheless, the role of the federal government in the contemporary child welfare system has risen as federal financing growths are accompanied by new requirements and rules laying emphasis on enhanced responsibility on the part of the states in attaining positive child results. The extension of the influence of the federal government in establishing national child welfare policy has been interposed by two foremost ideological arguments. The initial argument is about the rights of local governments and the state, versus the task of the federal government to make sure sufficient safety for all children. The second argument is centered on the needs of the children versus the rights of parents. For instance, when the weight of public views moves in the direction of parental rights, the objective of family maintenance is perceived to be significant (Munro, 2008). In contrast, when the weight of public views moves in the direction of the rights of the child, here is enhanced prominence on making sure child well being and child safety counts above everything else. Children whose parents did not have the ability to take care of them were frequently compelled to work for different households in the 1700s. By the initial periods of 1800, charitable and private religious organizations had set up the earliest orphanages. After half a century, out of worry about the impact of developing in orphanages, private institutions started the practice of taking orphans to foster families. Nevertheless, forthcoming families were not often examined, and institutions hardly ever scrutinized placements. By the initial periods of 1900, the initial state laws meant to put a stop to child neglect and abuse were enacted (Beckett, 2007). In addition, the earliest national forum on the requirements of needy children was organized, and the initial federal children’s bureau was created. Elizabeth Poor Laws passed in 1601 is considered to be the cornerstone of public welfare matters concerned with children and families. Elizabeth Poor Laws put forward a number of principles which echoed down through the times. Elizabeth Poor Laws developed the responsibility of local governments for underprivileged households as a basic rule. Therefore, the foremost source of finances for this duty was now embedded in local taxes. At one point this provided the restrictions that are linked with the offering help to underprivileged families. The standard of local fiscal responsibility and its shortcomings still form the basis of this heritage. In addition, the Elizabeth Poor Laws illustrated the people to be served. Also, residency needs acted as a rationing aspect. The subject of residency is still present in the history of public help for impoverished children and families (Polnay, 2001). In the initial period of the 20th century, there was the start of a federal responsibility. There was the White House Conference on children in1909. The children’s Bureau was also developed in 1912. In the current century, there was a significant event. The Sheppard-Towner Act was passed. This act created an extended network of reactions to the health of children and mothers. The Sheppard-Towner Act’s endeavor to establish a common minimum healthcare for children failed and disappeared. Finally, the final part of the 20th century focused on child protection. This period saw the development of research based practice and foster care system (Polnay, 2001). During this period, federal guidelines and policies emerge as the significant agenda for present-day child welfare. Child welfare policy in my locale gives a chance for state agencies, communities, and families to work together to develop a system that entails adequate home visiting to generate enhanced consequences in essential areas, for example, juvenile delinquency and neglect, child development and health, decreased child abuse, enhanced school readiness, economic self adequacy, academic achievement, and parental employment. In addition, the child welfare policy looks at allegations of neglect and abuse in the locale. The child welfare policy also provides foster care to neglected and abused children in the region. Different agencies are largely responsible for implementing the child welfare policy. Nonetheless, federal regulations and laws provide structure and guidance for the child welfare policy and practice (Polnay, 2001). The Children’s Bureau establishes specialized bulletins to complement official guidance and help states in putting into service child welfare practices and policies. Specialized bulletins encompass a wide range of topics, and presently entail; child welfare monitoring, the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System, the Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System, and the National Youth in Transition Database. The child welfare policy has a number of goals. First, it aims at protecting, safeguarding, and promoting the general wellness of families and children. Second is to mediate on behalf of children who have been neglected or abused. The third goal is to work with families and children to make sure that all children have a caring, safe, and permanent environment so as to realize their utmost capacity. Forth is to give instantaneous security and safety to children who go through neglect and abuse at home. Fifth is to lessen and remedy the risk of continuing neglect and abuse. The final goal is to offer a substitute plan of care for children when parents cannot give sufficient care for the children (Beckett, 2007). Child welfare policy offers services, for example, medical services, mental health counseling, parenting skills, drug and alcohol abuse treatment, and additional remedial services. In addition, foster care services are offered when it is established that children cannot be guarded in their own households. Child welfare policy also has a program that plans for adoptions. This is essential for children to find a permanent home incase their parents are not able to bring them up in a healthy and secure environment. The policy also provides rehabilitation services. This is a mutually agreed upon, reasonable, purposeful plan to lessen the risk of neglect and abuse in children (Munro, 2008). There are also a number of eligibility requirements in the child welfare service. The child should be going through an experience. The emergency situation may include dependency on children, neglect, or abuse. A child who is facing the risk of being removed from a home is also eligible. Child welfare policy also covers circumstances in which going back to the home of a child who is presently alienated from his household may lead to an emergency. In addition, families which do not have sufficient resources to deal with an emergency situation are also eligible (Munro, 2008). The ensuing most widespread grounds for child foster care is the nonexistence or situation of the parent, making up for almost 20% of foster care residency. Foster care for children was not harmonized below stipulations of the Social Security Act in a similar way as protective services. States adopt different child welfare policy and, regrettably, take hold of inadequate precautions to scrutinize children in foster care (Munro, 2008). Instead of being a temporary plan for child care, foster care has turned to be a prolonged happening for numerous children, alongside approximately 70% of young ones in foster care for over a year. According to existing data released by the federal government, almost 702,000 children turned out to be victims of child neglect or abuse in 2009. In addition, almost 3.8 million children received services or support to solidify households and put a stop to admission into foster care. Nevertheless, federal laws and federal funding provides guidance and backing for the child welfare policy and in a number of instances requirements, on how regions should care for and react to both neglected and abused children and children who face the danger of maltreatment. Nonetheless, each state is flexible in the manner they manage and establish their child welfare policy. Nevertheless, there is a tremendous difference in financing of services and state child welfare policy. Spreading information about child welfare policy enables federal and state policy makers and other concerned groups to adequately comprehend the policy that sustains the country’s safe haven for susceptible children (Beckett, 2007). References Beckett, C. (2007). Child protection: An introduction. California: SAGE. Munro, E. (2008). Effective child protection. California: SAGE. Polnay, J. (2001). Child protection in primary care. New York: Radcliffe Publishing. Read More