NCJ Number
56406
Date Published
1979
Length
19 pages
Annotation
HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY TRENDS IN THE CHILD WELFARE ROLE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN PROMOTING THE WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN FOR TWO GENERATIONS. BEGINNING WITH A DUAL CONCERN FOR ASSURING THE SURVIVAL OF CHILDREN AND PREVENTING THEIR EXPLOITATION, IT SHIFTED ITS ATTENTION TO CHILD REARING IN THE FAMILY OR SUBSTITUTE FAMILY, THEN TO CHILD DEVELOPMENT, COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT, AND EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND MORE RECENTLY TO CHILD MENTAL HEALTH, ABUSE, AND NEGLECT. THERE HAS BEEN A CONTINUING CONCERN WITH JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND, MORE RECENTLY, WITH STATUS OFFENDERS. THE APPROACH TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT TO MOST OF THESE ISSUES HAS BEEN THE SAME: PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION, TARGET GROUP SPECIFICATION, SERVICE DELIVERY SUPPORT THROUGH THE STATES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SERVICE PROVIDERS, TRAINING AND RESEARCH, EVALUATION OF LIMITED DEMONSTRATIONS, AND DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES FOR LEGISLATION AND SERVICES. UNDERLYING THESE EFFORTS HAVE BEEN THE BELIEFS THAT THE NATION'S POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC SYSTEMS AND VALUES ARE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE, AND THAT ANY FAILURE TO RESOLVE SOCIAL ILLS IS THE FAULT OF SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEMS, WHICH EVENTUALLY WILL BE MADE EFFECTIVE. THE MECHANICS OF FEDERAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROBLEM OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT ARE FAMILIAR, BUT THERE IS A NEED FOR A SYSTEMS APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM, ONE THAT RECOGNIZES ITS SOCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL DIMENSIONS. THERE IS ALSO A NEED FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO REDEFINE AND RESTRUCTURE ALL POLICIES AND SERVICES SO THAT THE FOCUS IS ON THE PRIMARY SOCIAL UNIT--THE FAMILY--RATHER THAN ON THE INDIVIDUAL. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)