Family and Children’s Services The Social Work Experience 5 th edition Mary Ann Suppes & Carolyn Cressy Wells Chapter 4 This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; Preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; Any rental, lease, or lending of the program. © 2009 Allyn & Bacon

The Historical Ecology of Child Welfare Slavery and indentured servitude Black Codes in Confederate States Discrimination and poverty High child birth rates and high child death rates due to poverty and disease Children were considered parental property Poor laws, almshouses, and apprenticeships Immigration and child labor © 2009 Allyn & Bacon

Early Child Welfare Social Work Outdoor Relief: Assistance in the family home NY Children’s Aid Society: Training schools, workshops, shelter, “foster care” (farm labor) Freedmen’s Bureau: Education, employment, and direct poverty relief for former slaves Settlement House Movement: Cooperative child care and self-help programs for families Friendly Visitors: In-home counseling for parents © 2009 Allyn & Bacon

History of Child Protection Children’s Aid Societies Early foster care and adoption programs 1875: Animal protection laws are used to protect children (Mary Ellen Wilson) 1909: Whitehouse conference on Children Value families and foster care over institutional care Societies for Prevention of Cruelty to Children Private child abuse prevention organizations 1974: CAPTA legislation and funding for child protection services in Title XX of the SSA © 2009 Allyn & Bacon

Contemporary Child Protection UN Rights of the Child: not ratified by the U.S. 1978: Creation of state regulated child protection agencies Child maltreatment is defined Mandated reporters of child maltreatment are identified Distinction of roles between private, voluntary agencies and public child welfare services Integration of child protection and family preservation Minimum, necessary interference in family life © 2009 Allyn & Bacon

Family Preservation Services: Prevention and Early Intervention TANF, Medicaid, food subsidies, housing assistance Parent education and home visiting Family and household management support Child care subsidy to allow parents to work Family counseling to resolve conflicts Investigation of reports of child maltreatment and permanency planning Adoption assistance for families who adopt children with special needs © 2009 Allyn & Bacon

Out-of-Home Care (When Children are not Safe at Home) Kinship Care: Safe placement with a family relative Foster Care: Placement with a trained family Shelters: Temporary, professional care for runaway/homeless children and abused/homeless families Institutional Care: Seriously emotionally and behaviorally disabled children requiring specialized services Detention: Restrictive intervention to impact criminal behavior © 2009 Allyn & Bacon

Poverty Assistance & Child Welfare Why public support of children? – Future of the economic market – Contributions to the common good The job of child rearing is only valued if it can be accomplished with economic independence Public assistance is conditioned on working outside the home. Only 10-15% of families are better off with the implementation of TANF © 2009 Allyn & Bacon

Poverty Assistance & Family Planning Poor women with Medicaid insurance do not have access to an abortion. Some states limit TANF if a woman has a child while receiving TANF. Poor, single women are encouraged to marry. Sound population measures are needed around the world to protect the planet. Education, employment, and access to family planning leads to decreased family size. © 2009 Allyn & Bacon

Non-Traditional Families Opportunities for Social Workers Same-sex couples maybe discriminated against in the adoption process, limiting options for children in- need of a permanent home. Multi-racial families develop creative opportunities to promote healthy ethnic identities. Immigrant families roles may be reversed due to language, education, and employment needs. © 2009 Allyn & Bacon

Family Policies U.S. vs. Industrialized Nations U.S. – 23 rd in infant mortality – Unpaid family & medical leave for employees of larger companies – Women face pay inequities, sexual harassment, and family unfriendly workplaces – 12% of homeless are families with children – CEO: worker compensation = 411:1 Other Nations – Provide Universal health care – Provide universal child care – Provide paid maternity/paternity leave – Up to 10% unemployment – One third of children are born outside of marriage – CEO: worker compensation = 60:1 or better © 2009 Allyn & Bacon