Our Broken Child Welfare System

Paper Summary:

This paper contends that the United States child welfare system has gone from bad to worse, even as citizens cry out for reform. The paper takes a hard look at what has worked and what hasn't and includes "Twelve Ways to Do Child Welfare Right". The paper examines specific cases and reasons for failure such as the training of caseworkers and lack of funding. It also looks at how Florida's effort at privatizing the child welfare system mostly turned out to be a failed experiment.

From the Paper:

"There are many cases such as these throughout the country and throughout the child welfare system. Many of the cases revolve around similar themes. Continuing child abuse and neglect while households are under the supervision of a state welfare agency is appallingly common. The abuse and neglect is done by both the natural parents and by foster parents assigned by a welfare agency. It would seem that since the household is under supervision then the instances of abuse and neglect would be minimized; since the safety and well being of children is the main goal of these child welfare agencies. What are the reasons that neglect and abuse continue right under the noses of caseworkers? Is it true that well meaning case workers are unable to properly supervise and conduct prescribed home visits to all of these families because of the size of their caseloads? Are foster parents, even though foster parents were approved by the child welfare agency more likely than biological parents to neglect or abuse a child in their care?"

Sample of Sources Used:

• Albowicz, Kathryn. (2006). "Florida's Experiment with Privatizing Child Welfare Services" American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees http://www.afscme.org/docs/flchild.pdf
• American Federation of State and County Employees (2008). "Private child welfare agencies waste funds and neglect kids" Retrieved December 9, 2008 http://www.afscme.org/issues/1514.cfm
• Canedy, Dana. (2002). "Miami 5-Year-Old Missing for Year Before Fact Noted" New York Times May 1,2002 Retrieved December 10, 2008 http://www.extralove.com/ash_rylia.html
• CNN (2007). "Rilya Wilson case still a mystery six years later" Retrieved December 9, 2008 http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/08/rilya.wilson.ap/index.html
• Hannan, Larry (2007). "State settles lawsuit with female raped in foster care" July 21, 2007. Naples Daily News, Naples Florida. Retrieved December 9, 2008 http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2007/jul/21/state_settles_lawsuit_female_rape d_foster_care/

More papers on Our Broken Child Welfare System:

• Term Paper # 129523 : "Insights in the Child Welfare System"
• Essay # 131433 : "Improvements in Cultural Sensitivity and the Child Welfare System"
• Term Paper # 99358 : "Insights into the Child Welfare System"

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