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National policies for safeguarding and protection of children
Overview of child protection
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Since the late 19th Century, Canada has taken an active role in the protection of children from abuse and exploitation. This protection has evolved in many different forms: from Ontario’s Prevention of Cruelty to, and Protection of Children Act of 1893, to the modern day British Columbian Child, Family and Community Service Act of 1996. These laws all share the same genesis of concern, but address the issues very differently. The biggest divergence can be viewed through the implementation of policy. Modern child protection services implement a wide range of professionals to monitor, assess and intervene in order to ensure a child is protected from abuse, neglect and harm or threat of harm (Child, 1996, p.2).
The question of which factors are
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If poverty rates and socioeconomic status were a significant factor for the prevalence of child abuse, there should theoretically be a strong correlation between countries with low poverty rates and corresponding rates of child abuse. However this connection is not observable, especially when you compare developed nations with varying levels of poverty against each other. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Innocenti report (2003) Child Maltreatment Deaths in Rich Nations, asserts that the United States of America (USA), Mexico and Portugal “have exceptionally high levels of child deaths from maltreatment”( p.2). And while UNICEF acknowledges that poverty levels play a factor in contributing to deaths, they are also quick to point out that “[a] small group of countries – Spain, Greece, Italy, Ireland and Norway – appear to have an exceptionally low incidence of child maltreatment deaths” (UNICEF, 2003, p.1). The significant aspect to these findings is that Spain, Ireland, and Greece all have higher rates of poverty than the USA and Portugal (CIA, 2010). The bleak picture becomes even clearer when you compare the number children’s deaths by maltreatment that occurred between 1997 to 2002. During this period, Italy had 117 cases while the USA had 8900 (UNICEF, 2003). Even when the …show more content…
Spearly & Lauderdale (1983) conclude that not only does the community play a pivotal role in stopping ongoing abuse, it also is a determinate factor as to the propensity that child abuse will occur. “Child maltreatment rates are found to be intercorrelated with other indicators of the breakdown of community social control and organization” (Coulton, Korbin, Su & Chow, 1995, p. 1262). The breakdown of community structures can occur in several different forms. SES is not a strong predictor for a community's social cohesion (Coulton et al., 1995). This distinction bears importance on policy making decisions and further an understanding that financial position is not the same as a strong community. The belief that a financially impoverished community will lead to abuse of its children, has been used repeatedly in Canadian history to justify unlawful removal of children under the guise of child protection. Incidents such as the 19th and 20th century residential school acts together with Canada’s wayward women laws, show that irreparable harm can be caused if SES is a determining factor for whether or not a child is safe. Instead, agencies and policies need to reflect the rich and diverse nature of
The child welfare system in United States uses a dominant colonial approach to how the child welfare system is applied. They are based on the foundations of patriarchal ideology. When approaching child welfare the attention is mostly given to the families and individual blame occurs, this may reflect the way the systems are designed, operating from a liberal ideology. Furthermore, in the process of child protection family service systems are exposed to the use of formal coercion and contested court involvements, although this is considered a last resort and avoided, if possible. Typically, after a child maltreatment report, the allegation is investigated and assessed for degree of state interven...
In Canada there are approximately 76 000 children under the protection of Child and Family Services who have experienced neglect, maltreatment, and child abuse (Trocme, Loo, Nutter & Falon, 2002). However, this number does not fully capture the extent of child abuse and neglect in Canada, nor children exposed to complex trauma. Previous research identified that children exposed to complex trauma are less likely to graduate from high school, are more likely to experience mental health and substance use problems and to be involved with the justice system and the child welfare system (Carrion, Weems et al., 2009; Thornbury, Ireland & Smith, 2001; Jaffee & Maikovich-Fong, 2011).
This webpage, the Canadian Child Welfare Research Portal, aims to provide access to research on the Canadian child welfare system. It looks upon the different forms of abuse including sexual, emotional, and physical abuse which affects a child’s wellbeing. As well, further links are provided to help readers understand the exposure of domestic violence and neglect within the household. According to this webpage, child abuse and neglect includes acts of commission or omission by a parent or other caregiver which create a potential, threat or result of harm to a child. As well, supplementary links to frequent definitions used when discussing child
Child protection is a part of society. Studying Child protection is relevant to Social workers because it guides the worker to make full concise and correct judgement when protecting children from violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect. UNICEF (2008) defines the child protection system as; a set of laws, policies, regulations and services needed across all social sectors, especially welfare, education, health, security and justice, to support prevention and respond to protection related risks. The relevant study on children and young people, who have been a victim of child abuse and neglect, provides the appropriate authorities to make decisions for the child/ren and/or young people to improve their welfare and wellbeing. Such effects on children can cause social and emotional issues, as they become adults, for example; Social isolation, unemployment, poor health, drug and alcohol abuse, lack of education and inequality. Miller-Perrin & Perrin (2007) argues the consequences of experiencing child abuse and neglect to be varying on each person. For some adults the effects are chronic and debilitating, and others have less of adverse outcomes, despite their
After 1912, services began to strengthen what they offered by developing official roles, creating standards of practice and formal training. In 1914, the first school of social work opened at the University of Toronto. In the 1950’s there was an increase in provincial and federal funding that would help social services. Also, at this time, orphanages were beginning to fade and foster homes were becoming increasingly widespread. Thus, the shift came from the idea that when protecting children, a home-life environment was better than an institution (Heinonen and Spearman, 2010, p. 76). Moreover, between 1960 and 1970, there was the development of The Canadian Assistance Plan which provided funding to a wide range of social assistance further protecting children and the language surrounding child protection emerged to include child abuse and rescue. Additionally, there was an increase in the number of children accessing child welfare agencies and being placed in subsite care and there was the development of child abuse registers. Furthermore, this era marked the discovery of child sexual abuse and why children were not disclosing it (Heinonen and Spearman, 2010, p. 76-77). There was a rapid change going on within child welfare agencies and society was receptive to the changes that were occurring. Fortunately, more children were being protected and being
For decades First Nations people1 faced abuse in Canada's residential school system. Native children had their culture and families torn away from them in the name of solving the perceived “Indian Problem” in Canada. These children faced emotional, physical, and sexual abuse at the hands of residential school supervisors and teachers. Since the fazing out of residential schools in the 1960's the survivors of residential schools and their communities have faced ongoing issues of substance addiction, suicide, and sexual abuse.2 These problems are brought on by the abuse that survivors faced in residential schools. The government of Canada has established a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to address these issues but it has been largely ineffective. Though the Government of Canada has made adequate efforts towards monetary reparations for the survivors of residential schools, it has failed to provide a means to remedy the ongoing problems of alcohol and drug addiction, sexual abuse, and suicide in the communities of residential school survivors.3
In Canada, child protection is basically a responsibility of the provincial and territorial governments through various activities such as investigating child protection concerns. As part of their responsibilities to promote child protection, the provincial and territorial governments may place children or young under care. This involves placing them in varying living arrangements such as group home, foster home, independent living program, receiving homes, and relatives’ home. Placing children in foster care seems to be the most common way used by various governments in Canada to address child protection concerns. However, this type of care has had significant challenges in the recent past, particularly in light of children or young people who age out of foster care. These challenges are attributed to the lack of legislative and policy initiatives taken to address children who age out of foster care in Canada. As a result of lack of such provisions, these children end up having lack of further education as they are forced into adulthood. In some cases, children who age out of foster care in Canada get involved in criminal activities. As the number of children who age out foster care increases, Canadian government should enact appropriate measures, especially legislation and policy to promote the well-being of these children as they grow into adulthood.
Child abuse is an issue in every state, every country, worldwide. There is no place that is immune to child abuse. This being stated they need better policies in place regarding the education on child abuse. Many people have many different opinions on how to lessen the amount of child abuse that goes on in this country, however many of them focus on stricter punishment for the abuser’s (Hmurovich, 2009). However, they know that stricter punishment will not lessen the amount of child abuse; it would truly have little to no impact on...
Children who grow up being abused physically or mentally will develop problems and the response by children to abuse and neglect could manifest in behaviors of delinquency such as dropping out of school, drugs, alcohol abuse, sexual promiscuity, prostitution, self-mutilation, stealing and other crimes and offenses. It does not matter whether you are born into a wealthy, middle class or poor family; children who are abused commit most of the same acts of delinquency.
Throughout this essay, the health, safety and welfare policy and practise that came about after the Victoria Climbie case will be reviewed and evaluated. After arriving in England in November 1991 from the Ivory Coast, eight-year old Victoria Climbie suffered abuse from her great-aunt, Marie-Therese Kouao, and her great-aunts partner. The anguish and eventual murder of Victoria in 2000 from hypothermia, caused by malnourishment and damp conditions, provoked ‘the most extensive investigation into the child protection system in British history’ as described by Batty (Macleod-Brudenell, 2004). The high media profiled incident exposed a clear lack of precision and communication between all professionals and agencies involved. This is shown by the fact that the mistreatment Victoria was suffering had gone unnoticed by the social services, police and NHS staff, who failed to make each other aware of the clear danger signs. Within the Lord Laming Inquiry into Victoria Climbie’s death (2003), it can be seen that some features recur time after time in child abuse cases; inadequate resources to meet demands, inexperience and lack of skill of individual social workers. In addition, it can also be seen that crucial procedures were evidently not being followed. The procedure that was established after this case included the recommendations made by Lord Laming such as the Green Paper of Every Child Matters (DfES, 2003) and the Children Act (DfES, 2004). These ensure that all children have the fundamental right to be protected from harm and abuse. In addition to this, it also certifies all adults who come into contact with children and families have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
The mistreatment of children is classified by four types of actions: physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, and neglect. Although, in recent years several steps have been taken to prevent the maltreatment of children it seems that child abuse is still prevalent in today's society. Countless children around the world suffer from some form of abuse and in many cases the same child experiences more than one. There is no exact number of victims because it difficult to measure the exact amount of children going through abuse. Child abuse almost always occurs in private, and because abuse is often hidden from view and its victims may be too young or too frightened to speak out, experts in child welfare suggest that its true prevalence
This paper will critically analyze and compare the Alberta Protection of Sexually Exploited Children Act and the Child and Family Community Services Act of British Columbia. The hope is to compare both policies, and analyzing the underlying issues in the policies by examining the social, economic, and political factors of both policies. Also, how both policies impact practice and the target group that the policy applies to. Furthermore, how we as social workers use both policies in an anti-oppressive perspective and lens, and the strengths/weaknesses and recommendations of both policies.
Merritt, D. H. (2009). Child Abuse Potential: Correlates with Child Maltreatment Rates And Structural Measures Of Neighborhoods. Children and Youth Services Review, 31, 927-934.
According to the Australian Childhood Foundation (2004), professionals working to prevent child abuse and neglect of ideas and information from other disciplines, including public health, education, mental health, and to influence and guide practice. However, it has been the greatest influence on public health organizations in the context of prevention services. This frame is made up of three levels of services: primary prevention programs, aimed at the general population (estate) in an attempt to prevent abuse before it occurs, and programs of secondary prevention, targeting individuals or families who are more likely to abuse (high-risk), and prevention programs tertiary, targeting the families of abuse that have occurred already (referred to). The states are involved in a number of prevention activities, some of which fall under the funding of Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) and some of the programs that fall under other federal regulations. Activities include CBCAP, which works with the community and families to prevent child abuse and neglect.
“Abuse is 14 times more common in poor families. Neglect is 44 times more common in poor families” (Grapes). If single mothers work, child abuse is considerably more likely because the working mothers may put their children in the hands of abusive caretakers. In most cases however, it is not the caretaker that neglects the child (Geredes 98). More likely it is that the child’s own parents do the abusing. “Often children are abused by people in the home, who are trusted by the child” (Moylan). Sometimes we think that once the child is taken away from his/her abusive parents they are out of harms way. Instead, foster care children are even twice as more likely to be assaulted than children living with their natural