NCJ Number
159734
Journal
Juvenile Justice Volume: 23 Issue: 11 Dated: (June 1, 1995) Pages: 4-7
Editor(s)
R J O'Connell
Date Published
1995
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes child welfare cases that test the ability of State systems to keep families together while protecting the best interests of children.
Abstract
Lawsuits have been filed in many States alleging that child welfare systems are failing to protect children. In many cases, children have languished in foster care and abusive homes while reports of abuse have gone unnoticed. In other cases, it takes officials who are cognizant of abuse many months or even years to remove a child from an abusive situation. Part of the problem in resolving child welfare cases can be attributed to competing philosophies. Some agencies and judges believe that children should be removed from unhealthy family situations and placed in foster or adoptive homes, while others believe in ultimate family reunification, even if the child has to be supported by the foster care system in the interim.