The Differences of the Child Welfare Policy in the United States to Those in Finland and Germany

2410 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Implications of social work

The underscoring concept to social work practice the pursuit towards a socially just society. Social workers serve the purpose of enriching society by enhancing social justice and eliminating social oppression. Mandates and mission statements support these objectives within social service agencies both in for profit and nonprofit sectors. One thing that every social service agency has in common is the overarching ideology that shapes the society they serve and more specifically, ideology influences the way an agency can conduct its services. Philosophy in most cases only goes as far as policy allows it too. This paper will examine the similarities and differences from western child welfare policy in the United States (US) and look outwards at international trends of practice and policy in Finland and Germany. In order to develop effective policy that meets society’s needs, it’s important to analysis other countries child welfare policies and gain an understanding of what is making a difference in child welfare practice around the world.
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...

... middle of paper ...

...ly five. Interestingly enough in Germany parents demanding children to be removed has doubled. Overall, we see three diverse countries but even though many differences are represented it appears their work is similar in nature and there are pros and cons about all three countries. Funding into family policy is similar between continental Europe and Social Democrats spending twice as much as liberal Anglo- American countries. It appears Finland was the most effective country stating child welfare was hardly a concern but as the world has developed it appears all three countries values have been absorbed by the idea of capitalism. Above all it’s evident that child protection is hard work no matter where the practice takes place and it’s valuable to look at other countries practices because it can provide insight into what approaches are effective in helping families.

Show More
Related

  • The Daniel Pelka Serious Case Review

    1723 Words  | 4 Pages

    Hendrick, H. (2005) Child welfare and social policy: an essential reader. Bristol: The Policy Press.

    Read More

  • Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder

    2613 Words  | 6 Pages

    Popple, P. R, & L. Leighninger. (2011). Social Work, Social Welfare, and American Society. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

    Read More

  • The Struggles of a Gifted Student in "And Still We Rise," Miles Corwin

    760 Words  | 2 Pages

    A state that undertakes custody of a child is declaring that it can do a better job providing protection. This system is a powerful agent of support, providing positive nurturing environments that enable a child to reach his or her potential. Nonetheless, when children suffer additional abuse in the system, this government intervention should be questioned.

    Read More

  • KIDJACKED

    594 Words  | 2 Pages

    Each of the 50 states has an agency responsible for protecting children. In Los Angeles, California, this agency is known as DCFS (Department of Children and Families Services). The Los Angeles Department of Family Services has recently made the news after a class action law suites ranging in the millions has left locals wondering whether or not DCFS is actually protecting the children they take into their custody. With the increasing number of cases each day, concerns are being raised as to whether the rights of parents are being violated. It is common knowledge that there have been serious accuracy flaws resulting in the wrongful termination of many parents’ rights. However, little is being done to fix these errors and give parents their children back. Child Protective Services is the most needed yet unwanted Agencies in each state. While a system is necessary to intervene and protect children who are abused, there are speculation on the procedures and policy the state uses. While interventi...

    Read More

  • Benefits Of CAPA

    1651 Words  | 4 Pages

    All the benefits provided by CAPTA are important, but one highly important benefit CAPTA provides for infants and children is that all allegations of child abuse and neglect must be investigated to ensure the well-being and safety of every infant and child. After allegations of child abuse and neglect are reported an investigation is the next step in protecting every child. Another benefit of CAPTA for infants and children is that if the heart wrenching experience of child abuse or neglect occur the state CPS systems and private organizations are trained and prepared to provide treatment for the child. In a like manner, CAPTA provides benefits for women and families by providing support and services that address domestic violence. CAPTA also promotes family involvement in all aspects of a CPS case involving child abuse and neglect. The states benefit by the foundation that CAPTA sets regarding the functioning of CPS systems and in a financial aspect. CAPTA provides funding to “Support child abuse and prevention activities by funding discretionary grants to states and/or public or private agencies or organizations” (California Department of Child Services, 2011). Everyone benefits when CPS systems according to CAPTA policies, “The act’s sponsors meant to feature three important themes of CPS reform in these amendments, including encouraging the involvement of family members in a child welfare agency’s decisions process; promoting and enhancing COS collaboration with domestic violence services and substance abuse treatment programs, and increasing the use of differential response by states through the use of noninvestigative/nonaccusatory approach to responding to reports of child maltreatment” (American Bar Association,

    Read More

  • Child Welfare Policy in Canada

    1047 Words  | 3 Pages

    Ideological perspective influence how society defines at-risk individuals or groups, and its solution (Graham, Swift, & Delaney, 2012), and the changing societal belief on children brought dramatic changes to development of child welfare policy. From the early 20th century, childhood has become characterized by not only proper guidance and protection of a family, but an increased role of the community and the state in preventing abuse and exploitation. Society also began to consider the well-being of children as the future of a strong nation, and failure as a potential damage to the development of a healthy society. Such beliefs pointed to the need for child welfare policies around the areas of deinstitutionalization, improved health care, and compulsory schooling, along with demise of child labour. In the areas of child labour, for example, although child labour was preferred as it provided a cheaper, more manageable workforce in industrialization era, the changing societal attitude toward child labour brought strict regulation for the demise of child labour. The working condition and the treatment of children in factories were also put into scrutiny to provide safer working environment to those who often had to endure both physical and verbal abuse while working wit...

    Read More

  • The Failure of Child Protective Services in America

    1449 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many children across the country are wrongfully removed from their homes everyday by workers with an anti-family mindset, who use removal as a first resort not a last. It is not only detrimental to the child’s well-being, but is also immorally abusive to the child. The goal of the child welfare system is to promte safety, permanency, and wellness among all children.

    Read More

  • Child Welfare System Case Study

    1752 Words  | 4 Pages

    Child welfare system was originated with the goals that social workers would try and alleviate poverty and its impact; however as the years have passed, the child welfare system turned into a child protection system directed toward investigating abuse and neglect, and removing children from families and placing them in foster care, and is no longer prepared to assist in resolving the problems of child poverty (Lindsey, 2004). Child welfare system has been developed around the residual approach which demands that aid should be given only after the family is in crisis or other support groups have failed to meet a child’s minimal needs. However, over the years, there have been different focuses for the child welfare system, whether it involved

    Read More

  • Parties that Usually Report Child Abuse to Authorities

    1283 Words  | 3 Pages

    When children are hurt physically, emotionally, or sexually it is known to be child abuse. Children are known to be neglected when they are not getting the proper attention needed for children. When children are neglected or abused in any way it is the responsibility of others to report such acts to the authorities as to what they have witnessed first-hand or signs of abuse or neglect seen after the fact, these people who reports such acts are known as third parties. The proper authorities to report child abuse or neglect is called Child Protected Services also known as Child Welfare. After the abuse or neglect is reported the proper authorities will then investigate to see if the abuse or neglect is legit or fraudulent (Sedlak, 2001).

    Read More

  • Indian Child Welfare Act Analysis

    657 Words  | 2 Pages

    In his article “The Blood-Stained Indian Child Welfare Act,” Will successfully brings to light the horrors that accompany the ICWA. However, the ICWA is only one act in one nation. Given the existence of nearly two hundred countries in the world, more acts similar to the ICWA must exist, meaning that thousands of children are in danger. How many of these children could be saved if people simply became more

    Read More

  • Summary: The Arkansas Child Welfare System

    682 Words  | 2 Pages

    The objective of this paper is to provide a concise and accurate account of the attempt(s) to regulate the child welfare system in Arkansas. This paper will first examine the call for reorganization of the executive branch nationally, as well as specifically in the Arkansas state government around the time the Department of Human Services was created. It will then look at the history of the Department of Human Services (DHS), specifically with respect to the Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Third, the creation of the Child Abuse Protection and Treatment Act put into law by the Supreme Court. Also including the state child abuse reporting laws in Arkansas compared to other states in the country. This paper will then

    Read More

  • Social Welfare Movement Essay

    872 Words  | 2 Pages

    While humans have for generations acknowledged the importance of children in the society, the government involvement in child affairs has been varied over the decades. In the US, the government did not play a major role in the promotion of the welfare of children and youth in the country by the end of the 19th century. This trend changed in the early years of the 20th century when the federal government started to demonstrate a major interest in child welfare. This took place in the progressive era which saw the immergence and active engagement of the child-savers movement. Owing to the efforts of such organizations, several policies and legislations were worked on by the US government from the start of the 20th century to promote child welfare in the society (McGowan, 2005).

    Read More

  • The Tip Of The Iceberg Analysis

    366 Words  | 1 Pages

    Social welfare policy and the review of the YouTube video “The Tip Of The Iceberg: Social Work, Social Justice and Social Action – Darrell Wheeler, Ph.D.” The video gets off to a slow start but once the keynote speaker steps up to the mic, he begins to describe social work, social justice and social action with incredible intellect and very few notes. Dr. Wheeler knows his subject area extremely well and is passionate in leading others by sharing his knowledge.

    Read More

  • Child Abuse and Neglect

    1474 Words  | 3 Pages

    When thinking about statistics on child abuse, it’s very helpful to know that the idea of “child abuse” is very controversial. Recently, in particular homes and cultures, child abuse has come to be seen as a major social problem and a main cause of many people’s suffering and personal problems. Some believe that we are beginning to face the true prevalence and significance of child abuse. There is more to child abuse than just the physical scars; children are affected socially, mentally, and emotionally. According to the American National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse, in 1997, neglect represented 54% of confirmed cases of child abuse, physical abuse 22%, sexual abuse 8%, emotional maltreatment 4%, and other forms of maltreatment 12%.

    Read More

  • Essay On Social Work

    1002 Words  | 3 Pages

    The social work profession is defined as “a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people (ISFW, ‘Global Definition of Social Work’, 2016).” The definition may be true about the profession but it is more in depth than just that. To me, the profession’s primary focus is to help others through life as much as we can while letting them make their own choices and guiding them. In society, social workers are utilized in many different nonprofit and government roles. They serve the community in many different ways from monitoring parent visits to helping people through mental illnesses. Human beings are so complex and things that happen

    Read More

More about The Differences of the Child Welfare Policy in the United States to Those in Finland and Germany

Open Document