Child Welfare

Child Welfare

Child protection (welfare) is used to describe a set of government and private services designed to protect children and encourage family stability

Child welfare services

Two main categories of services:– Child protective services– Prevention services

Child protective services

Investigation of alleged abuse, foster care and adoption services

Child abuse includes: Neglect Emotional abuse Sexual abuse Physical abuse

Prevention services

Services aimed at supporting at-risk families so they can remain intact

Also known as “family preservation services”

Historical origins

The concept of the child welfare system dates back to Plato’s Republic

Plato wrote that the interests of the child could be served by removing children from the care of their parents and placing them into state custody

Child welfare in the UK

A comprehensive child welfare system under which local authorities have duties and responsibilities toward children in need in their area

This covers provision of advice and services, as well as accommodation and care of children who became uncared for

Children in need

Children with disabilities Children subject to social and economic

deprivation

Care proceedings

Local authorities can initiate proceedings for the removal of children from their parents care in case of “significant harm” (abuse or neglect)

The Children Act 1989 and 2004

Came into force in 1991 in England and Wales

Legal framework for the care, protection and upbringing of children

It regulates what happens to children after divorce of their parents and protects children from all kinds of abuse

Adoption order

In circumstances where it would be unsafe for the child to return to live with her/his parents, the local authority may seek to have the child adopted. An adoption order (which transfers parental responsibility to the adoptive parents) is only made by a court following extensive enquiries. The sole criteria for deciding if the order should be made, is the best interest of the child.

Social services

A range of services to help families in crisis

This includes advice, counselling, help in the home or access to family centres

Some services are provided by voluntary groups

Children homes are run by local authorities or private organisations

The Convention on the Rights of the Child

Adopted by the General Assembly of the UN in November, 1989

A universally agreed set of standards and obligations which spells out the basic rights for all children, everywhere and at all times

The most widely adopted international human rights treaty in history

Basic rights of the children

The right to survival To develop to the fullest To protection from harmful influences,

abuse and exploitation To participate fully in family, cultural and

social life

The definition of a child

Every human being below the age of eighteen years unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier (Article 1)

An individual, but also a member of a family and the community

Foundation principles of the Convention

Non-discrimination (Article 2) Best interests of the child (Article 3) The child’s right to life, survival and

development (Article 6) Respect for the views of the child (Article

12)

Revision

Answer the following questions:

What does social work profession promote?

What is a disability? What is ageism?

1. The social work profession promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being.

2. Disability is a physical or mental impairment which has real and long-term adverse effect on the person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

3.Ageism is discrimination of a person on the basis of their age.

Which are basic rights of the children according to the Convention on the Rights of the Child?

The right to survival To develop to the fullest To protection from harmful influences,

abuse and exploitation To participate fully in family, cultural and

social life

Translate the following:

Starenje donosi mnoge životne promjene, pozitivne i negativne, s kojima se valja suočiti i nastojati im se prilagoditi. U tom životnom razdoblju osoba zaključuje svoj radni vijek, odlazi u mirovinu, suočava se sa slabljenjem tjelesnih i duševnih sposobnosti, s porastom rizika od bolesti, invalidnosti, financijske ovisnosti, društvene potisnutosti, gubitkom bliskih osoba i mnogim drugim teškoćama. Zbog toga je starijim osobama više nego drugima potrebna potpora i pomoć obitelji, lokalne zajednice, ali također i organizirane mjere društvene zajednice. Stoga kvaliteta života u starosti u velikoj mjeri ovisi o vrsti i opsegu mjera društvene intervencije i razgranatosti mreža ustanova.

Ageing brings along many changes in life, both positive and negative ones, which have to be faced and adjusted to. In this period of life people finish their working life, enter retirement, are faced with the deterioration of their physical and mental capacities, as well as an increased risk of illness, disability, financial dependence, social marginalization, loss of their loved ones and many other difficulties. For this reason older persons need support and assistance from their family, the local community, but also the organized measures of society as a whole more than others. Therefore the quality of life in older age largely depends on the kind and extent of the social intervention measures and the distribution of the institutional network.

Translate the following:

Empowerment of people The Disability Discrimination Act The age of consent Being biased against others Subsidised services Protection from abuse and exploitation

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