Children and Families Chapter 10

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education Key Concepts  Child welfare policy –Public intervention in relation to children and families mandated and guided by social welfare policies  Child welfare system –Constellation of public services designed to protect and promote the well-being of children

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education Demographics  There are 72 million children in the U.S.  26% of total population are children  These numbers will grow by 15% by 2030  All of the growth will be among children of color (56% increase by 2030)  22% of all households with children are headed by single women

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education The Child Welfare System  Federal, state, local and tribal programs designed to ensure safety, maintain permanency, and strengthen families  Services typically include child protective services (CPS), foster care, adoption, and family preservation

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education HISTORY  Progressive Era – beginning of private agencies, development of state-run institutions, and political advocacy  Great Depression – passage of critical federal legislation as part of the Social Security Act (ADC and maternal health  War on Poverty – Anti-poverty programs such as WIC, Head Start, Medicaid, and Child Health Act

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education  1970s and Child Protection – legislation to protect children from abuse and neglect; the Indian Child Welfare Act  1980s and 1990s – Family preservation and welfare reform  New Millennium – No Child Left Behind Act

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education Major Federal Programs  INCOME ASSISTANCE –  TANF –Although an anti-poverty program, it is critical to the well-being of low-income families, particularly single- women headed households –75% of TANF recipients are children –92% are under the age of 15  Child Support Enforcement –Mandated through the Social Security Act, assists custodial parents in receiving payments from noncustodial parents

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education  IN-KIND  WIC – food and nutrition  Health Care – –MEDICAID –State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) –Maternal Health Care

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education Child Protective Services  Brought to public attention in the 1960s by physicians under the term “battered child syndrome”  1974 – services codified under the Child Abuse and Treatment Act which provided grants to states in order to establish mandatory reporting laws and further develop state child protective services

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education CPS major programs  Foster Care –Temporary with the goal of reuniting children with their families  Adoption –When reunification is not possible, finding a permanent placement through adoption

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education EDUCATION  Children are the key participants in our educational system  All states have compulsory education laws  Levels of education are correlated with earnings and hence future well-being  Education for all children includes those with disabilities, and major legislation mandates education for children with disabilities

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education Who should take care of children?  While families are responsible for the well- being of their children, when does the state step in?  What level of care is sufficient, and what level of care is considered dangerous or neglectful?  Who should make these decisions?  How do we best make these decisions?