Abstract This paper examines the importance of improvements in culturalsensitivity in the childwelfaresystem of the United States. It discusses the reasons for these requirements and how it would help to make the organization an effective entity within society. It also looks at the role of the leadership within the childwelfaresystem in supporting and promoting this culturalsensitivity.
From the Paper "The research supports the concept that child welfare agencies would benefit from developing culturally sensitive environments. This is evidenced through systems approaches that acknowledge that all elements within a system, or culture, should be considered as a means of understanding the system. Additionally, culturally sensitive environments can be impacted by the workers that support the organization and the leadership styles that inspire workers to meet new objectives and visions for a culturally sensitive workplace."
Abstract This paper presents a welfare professional's insights into the childwelfaresystem (CWS). The paper explains that the welfare professional was a foster child herself and then goes on to describe three areas that call for attention in terms of revision within CWS: These issues concern systems thinking and the interrelatedness of all CWS decisions, cultural issues in CWS dealings relating to both structural inequality and diversity theories and organizational structure issues, which are relevant in both leadership and change theories and organizational change theories.
From the Paper "Finally, changes in the organizational structure and overall running protocol of CWS agencies will allow improvements in the system. Expecting and fostering accountability will create an environment of strength and security, greatly improving the chances of success for CWS clients. Additional collaboration with outside and connected organizations will provide support and insight while maintaining that accountability through open expectations and goal sharing with those agencies. Most importantly, these changes must occur while moving CWS toward a flat organizational structure. This will address current structural and bureaucratic problems while increasing inter-agency communication. Reducing levels of management will also allow management to work more closely with "front line" staff and improve quality of care."
Abstract The paper compares essays written by experts in the field of childwelfare which examine the problems of the system and the solutions they offer. The paper discusses Duncan Lindsey's article "The Changing Welfare of Children" which involves the changing needs of children since the family structure has changed so dramatically over the last fifty years. The paper then examines Catharyn Baird's article "Conversations about Distributive Justice" which challenges people to seek equal distributive justice.
From the Paper "This essay first started by exposing the problem of child poverty. First, it pointed out that the United States is the wealthiest nation in the world with the highest rate of child poverty. Lindsey then explained the problem that developed due in part to mothers joining the workforce and the lack of childcare that stemmed from it. Lindsey gives many quotes that are difficult to read and require more analyzation to process. The essay is meant for concerned individuals. The charts and statistics give an insight into the problem of child poverty. The essay appeals to the reason individuals and their emotions toward children."
Abstract This paper discusses how compared to other countries, the United States does not have a generous welfaresystem. The paper reports that unlike other countries, there is no federal paid maternity leave, for instance, or family allowances and no national health insurance. The paper further discusses how ideas have changed regarding reproduction and women's roles in society, and these have made an impact on the welfare state.
From the Paper "During the Nixon era, thinkers seriously debated establishing a universal basic income for all citizens. Some officials feared, however, that employers would "use the increased income received by the poor as an excuse to lower the wages that they pay these employees." In other words employers would say, "Well, you are getting money from the government, so you don't need me to pay you so much." They also feared that a "floor" under the income of poor families might actually operate "as a ceiling on earned income" so that the poor would actually be worse off instead of better (Block & Somers, 2003). The idea of a guaranteed annual income was defeated.
In 1988 the Family Support Act was signed into law. Single mothers on welfare had to participate in Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training Program if they wanted assistance. In 1996 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families was enacted, which limited the length of time a person could receive benefits. Thus, public programs that were once designed to discourage women from working outside their homes have been transformed and now require women to get jobs."
Abstract The paper discusses the litigation directed toward the childwelfaresystem that has been the subject of much controversy. The paper contends that if arbitration or mediation can resolve problems and conflicts faster, and still promote the welfare of children, they should be initiated. The paper describes the litigation process resulting in the Colorado ChildWelfare Agreement (CCWA) and is of the opinion that rather than sue the government needlessly, citizens should collaborate to make programs better rather than simply complain about them.
Outline:
Introduction
Analysis of Issue
Conclusion
From the Paper "Large lawsuits involving litigation can result in very large and "systemic" change for child welfare, however the expense and time involved in these lawsuits could be solved through simpler measures including arbitration, which would save precious time and money, money needed to ensure the rights of children are supported (Stein, 1998; Kosanovich & Joseph, 2005). Other instances apart from class action lawsuits where litigation has occurred include litigation that required services including medical and dental care were offered to children and provisions that addressed parental issues including adoption (Kosanovich & Joseph, 2005)."
Abstract This paper analyzes Indian childwelfare in Oregon in the United States. It particularly discusses the 1978 Indian ChildWelfare Act (ICWA), which regulates placement proceedings involving Native-American children. It looks at the benefits of the law, as well as the problems associated with it, such as the lack of proper enforcement. The paper then discusses how these problems can be remedied.
From the Paper "In conclusion, the Indian Child Welfare Act was passed into law in 1978 because the federal government recognized that it was necessary to reestablish tribal authority in Oregon and other states in cases involving the adoption or removal of Native American children from their homes. The ICWA was considered necessary because a very high percentage of Indian families had been broken up by non-tribal agencies because state officials did not understand or accept Indian culture."
"In order to remedy this, the ICWA established minimum standards for the removal of Native American children from their homes and assured tribal participation in court proceedings. But in Oregon and many other states, establishing clearer guidelines is necessary so caseworkers can formulate plans that conform to federal ICWA standards and thus ensure that the intent of the federal Act is fulfilled, and the rights of Native American children and their families are protected."
Tags: native, adoption, culture, Oregon, government
Abstract The paper discusses concerns regarding the ability of service delivery models (SDMs) to give support to socio-economically challenged families and individuals in the community. The paper continues and relates that, although there is recognition of the need for welfare reform, policy changes have devolved in its efforts to support disenfranchised and socially excluded vulnerable groups. At the same time, the Ontario Ministry of Finance believes that the welfare restructuring will help the most vulnerable. In the course of this paper, these opinions are assessed and their subsequent impact on welfare services in Ontario determined. The research focuses mainly on the impact of the reforms on childwelfare services and income support services for low-income families. The criteria used for the research is whether the reforms have increased the social inclusion and capacity of clientele receiving these services.
Outline:
Introduction
Welfare reforms
Impact assessment and evaluation
Conclusion
From the Paper "The issue of welfare is not an issue that can be discussed without the need to delve in social, economic and political issues. Canada in general has been sensitive to social demographics and developments however there is also the realization that current demands on social services are stretching resources thin. Though there has been a number of a research highlighting the challenges of the current Ontario Works SDM, there is still significant room to facilitate the improvements. As it is, despite significant efforts to improve services and their delivery, the clientele of Ontario Works feel deficiencies in welfare services. There is no denying that there are parties who abuse welfare services, but this should not be the burden of people who really need welfare support. The prevailing perception is that policies have not just been unable to alleviate welfare concerns but have exacerbated concerns and limited the capacity of welfare services to respond to developing demands."
Abstract This paper explains that the increasing number of incarcerated parents is having a severe effect on the lives of the children of these prisoners. It discusses how the welfaresystem takes on responsibility for these children and that, ultimately, they become the system's problem. The paper concludes that, because it is the country's most basic support for vulnerable children, it is important that the childwelfaresystem begin to address the needs of children with incarcerated parents in a thoughtful, systematic way.
From the Paper "In 1998, there was an estimated 200,000 children in the United States that had an imprisoned mother and more than 1.6 million with an imprisoned father (Seymour 1998). However, no one knows for certain how many children in the U.S. have an incarcerated parent (Seymour 1998). The Center for Children of Incarcerated Parents uses a formula for calculating these numbers by multiplying the number of currently incarcerated women by .75, the average number of incarcerated women with children, by 2.4, the average number of children per incarcerated mother; then multiply .56, the average percentage of incarcerated men with children, by 2.0, the average number of children per incarcerated father, and add the two sums together (Seymour 1998). With the incarcerated population in the United States growing by an average of 6.5 percent each year, the number of children with parents in prison will only continue to increase (Seymour 1998)."
Abstract This paper examines the "Temporary Assistance to Needy Families" (TANF) package most often referred to as "welfare," which provides cash assistance and work support for low-income families with children. It discusses the effect of these new economic and social conditions on family reunification and preservation and examines the impact on the poor and needy. It also looks at the role of a childwelfare worker and how it is conceivably different in 2001 than it was prior to welfare reform.
From the Paper "In 2001, cash assistance is no longer an entitlement to low income parents raising children. Cash grants are now time-limited, and parents in need of financial help must meet a number of performance requirements. In the early to mid-1990s, prior to the passage of PRWORA, many states obtained waivers from the federal government that permitted them to put into action reforms to their welfare programs. With these state waivers and changes to the federal laws, the welfare system in the United States has undergone a dramatic alteration."
Tags: U.S., economic, social, conditions, jobs, hunger, health
Abstract In this article, the writer notes that identifying important factors and relationships in the educational and social progress of children is important for policy formation. To accurately inform the development of welfare legislation variables like income, parents' education levels and other variables, policy variables should be considered and the weight of those variables' effects on children should be measured. The writer points out that in some instances, locating a policy variable that intervenes in the relationship between variables like income and children's welfare outcomes can reveal less obvious determinants of important childwelfare outcomes. This paper analyzes data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health to assess how a mother's education is involved in the relationship between family income and indexes of children's educational and health welfare. The objective of this analysis is to aid policy recommendations in identifying important influences and obstacles faced by impoverished children. The paper includes an appendix with four tables.
Outline:
Introduction
Hypothesis
Alternative
Theory
Methods
Results
Recommendation
Appendix
From the Paper "The positive effect of mother's education on child educational welfare and its intervention in the positive relationship between income and education achievement suggest maternal schooling may be a point of interest in child welfare policy formation. Recommended policies could range from more sex education for girls in high school and college or new programs specially designed to help women in school who get pregnant continue their education. Programs to assist pregnant women in school could provide funds to relieve the burdens of tuition and necessary medical care or provide other forms of assistance such as student tax relief to encourage mothers and future mothers to finish their educations.
"With respect to the alternative hypothesis, the negative effect of income on the health index is possibly a result of wealthier children responding low to number of times exercised per week."
Abstract This paper examines education as a change agent for cultural awareness and collective need. It discusses educational theories of multicultural education and the characteristics of a culturallysensitive curriculum. It then looks at the role of teachers in imparting the culturallysensitive curriculum. The paper focuses on Pablo Freire's work, "Pedagogy of the Oppressed."
Table of Contents:
Review of Literature
Characteristics of CulturallySensitive Curriculum
Characteristics of CulturallySensitive Teachers
From the Paper "As the diversity in the US grows, there must be debates about the nature of the reflection of curriculum on a changing population. Through this work it has been made clear that immigrants often feel disconnected from the education of their children, especially when language barriers are an issue. The work of the educator, regardless of the answer tot eh debate is to develop core communications with these parents so as to better teach children their role in a foreign social and cultural environment. Regardless of the level of acceptance of a multicultural classroom within a school or district, no children or parent should feel rejected by it. Debates may not seem like a politically correct way to develop such relationships, but they can be a starting point for opening up a line of communication that further develops the child's feelings of cultural pride and personal self esteem, two issues that are crucial to long term success and civic responsibility and in many ways must be imparted by the culturally sensitive teacher."
Abstract This paper describes the beginnings of the American welfaresystem and how it evolved over time into the network of welfare programs operating today. The paper also describes the purpose of the welfaresystem as well as some of the welfare programs that are available today to American citizens. Additionally, the paper looks at whether the present welfaresystem in the U.S. is achieving its objective of helping the poor and most vulnerable in society or whether it is failing to meet that objective.
From the Paper "Until the nineteenth century, many people lived in large extended families, including grandparents, cousins, and other relatives, that worked together for generations of family farms, however, during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, countries around the world shifted from primarily agrarian to primarily industrial economies, and during the late twentieth century, some of these nations shifted again and became primarily postindustrial, or service and information based, economies (Welfare pp). The tradition of large families living together began to disappear, and many began living in smaller families, consisting of only married couples and their children (Welfare pp). Moreover, the industrial and postindustrial jobs often depend on flexible and mobile workers, thus many people have to commute long distances from home to work, and may even have to relocate (Welfare pp). The majority of people in developed nations today have completely separate family and work lives because small, flexible families are better suited to these types of work patterns, however, small families do not provide the kind of social support that extended families do, and in addition, single-parent households provide even less support than the typical nuclear families (Welfare pp)."
Tags: elderly, mental, physical, dependent, children, government, funded, economic, support
Abstract This paper presents the personal statement of the writer who graduated from St. John's University in January 2007 with a Bachelors degree in Human Services. It describes experiences from her life and the life of her family to explain the factors that led to her personal growth and maturity. It then explains why the writer decided to pursue a career in childwelfare.
From the Paper "Getting Counseling helped Jennifer become stable, and understand the situation. I could not believe what a difference it makes talking for just one hour in an individual's life. I strongly believe that this experience lead me into my current career as you can never judge a book by it's cover. As this man seemed to be kind , but ended up being very cruel. Being objective is something I have learned through these experiences and helps me provide better assistance to my clients. In the year 2000 I started to work as a receptionist at Western Queens Recovery Services. This agency helps people to stay sober, and learn to live without using addictive substances. Here I would see how some people changed their living style. They will tell me they were glad to be able to stop drinking, because of the therapist help. Clients would tell me that the counselor would help them boost their self-esteem. Counselors were proud of their work, and they knew that most of the time they will be able to make a difference in a client's life no matter how small that difference may be. Being part of this environment made me decide what road to follow."
Abstract The paper explains that cultural competence refers to being trained to work in any cross cultural therapeutic environment. The paper relates that every encounter is cross cultural because therapists and patients have differing reference groups. Culturalsensitivity and cultural competence involve the acquisition of both generic and specific cultural knowledge and skills. The paper stresses that unless the mental health psychiatric nurse takes the cultural influences on a patient into account, the goals and process for that patient will not be appropriate.
From the Paper "Cultural competence is associated with four areas: awareness, knowledge, relationships and skills. In order to work with people from diverse cultures who have a mental health disability, the nurse must have cultural competence."
Abstract This paper examines the the history of social welfare in America, from President Roosevelt's "New Deal" plan in the 1930s to Clinton's reform of the welfaresystem. This in-depth paper focuses mainly on democratic presidents Roosevelt, Johnson and Clinton and their impact on social welfare. This paper contains detailed historical facts and research.
Topics covered in this report include:
The History of Social Welfare F.D.R's "New Deal" and L.B.J's "Great Society"
The 1996 Presidential Campaign
Changes in Welfare Reform since 1996 Election
Works Cited
From the Paper ""Under President Lyndon Johnson, social welfare programs were expanded. Johnson added food stamps, and welfare to the programs created by Roosevelt. The make work programs were over. Johnson's intentions were admirable. He saw great expanse between the wealthy and poor, and wished to raise the standard of living for the poorest of Americans."
