The Future of Child Protection
How to Break the Cycle of Abuse and Neglect
Published on 30. September 2001
Book
Paperback/Softback
296 pages
978-0-674-00723-9 (ISBN)
Description
Lisa Steinberg. Elisa Izquierdo. Lance Helms. These are just a few of the names drawn from recent headlines, revealing cases of horrendous child abuse and neglect. Such cases have led to a crisis of confidence in the current child protective services (CPS) system, and to frequent calls for reform.
The public is right to be concerned, shows Jane Waldfogel, but many perceptions of the CPS system and the problems it is designed to alleviate are inaccurate. This book goes beyond the headlines, using historical, comparative, and specific case data to formulate a new approach to protecting children.
Currently, Waldfogel argues, the CPS system is overwhelmed by referrals. As a result, neither high-risk nor low-risk families are adequately served.
Waldfogel examines the underlying assumptions of CPS, compares the U.S. record with those of Britain, Canada, and Australia, and offers a "new paradigm" in which CPS joins with other public and private partners to provide a differential response to the broad range of children in need of protection. She highlights reforms underway in several states and in Britain.
This book's analytical clarity and straightforward policy recommendations will make it mandatory reading for policymakers, practitioners, and others interested in the future of child protection.
The public is right to be concerned, shows Jane Waldfogel, but many perceptions of the CPS system and the problems it is designed to alleviate are inaccurate. This book goes beyond the headlines, using historical, comparative, and specific case data to formulate a new approach to protecting children.
Currently, Waldfogel argues, the CPS system is overwhelmed by referrals. As a result, neither high-risk nor low-risk families are adequately served.
Waldfogel examines the underlying assumptions of CPS, compares the U.S. record with those of Britain, Canada, and Australia, and offers a "new paradigm" in which CPS joins with other public and private partners to provide a differential response to the broad range of children in need of protection. She highlights reforms underway in several states and in Britain.
This book's analytical clarity and straightforward policy recommendations will make it mandatory reading for policymakers, practitioners, and others interested in the future of child protection.
Reviews / Votes
Through a carefully balanced analysis, The Future of Child Protection advances the policy debate beyond the 'child abuse as a problem of poverty' and the 'criminalization of child abuse' perspectives in the current literature. Waldfogel develops a powerful case for the reform of the CPS system through a differential response model--a compelling alternative that policy makers are well-advised to study. The book is clearly written and the scholarship first-rate. -- Neil Gilbert, University of California, BerkeleyMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge, Mass
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
43 tables
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 156 mm
Weight
426 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-674-00723-9 (9780674007239)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Jane Waldfogel is Professor of Social Work and Public Affairs at Columbia University.
Content
1. Child Abuse and Neglect Today The Role of Child Protective Services The Demographics of Children in Need of Protection Consequences of Reporting 2. A Comparative Perspective Operation of Child Protective Services Sample Data Criteria for Reporting Procedures after Reporting Differences in Outcome by Type of Reporter Outcomes Why Are U.S. Reporting Rates So High? 3. The Current Child Protective Services System Scope A Brief History of CPS Underlying Assumptions A Critical View of the System Implications for a New Paradigm 4. Entry into the System History of the Reporting Laws The Reporting, Screening, and Investigation System Reforming the Intake System Contents 5. Narrowing as a Strategy to Improve Child Protection The Case for Narrowing What Would "Narrowing" Mean? Evaluating the Case for Narrowing How "Narrowing Plus" Might Be Accomplished Unresolved Issues 6. Differential Response: A New Paradigm for Child Protective Services Paradigms for Child Protective Services The Diversity and Complexity of Families Referred to CPS Features of the Differential Response Paradigm Moving to Differential Response 7. Working Together: Child Protection Reform in Britain The Development of the British CPS System The Impetus for Reform The Children Act of 1989 Beyond the Children Act 8. Changing Frontline Practice Implications of the New Paradigm Lessons from Earlier Initiatives to Change Frontline Practice How States and Localities Can Help 9. Reforming Child Protection The Current Child Protective Services System A New Paradigm for Child Protection Moving toward a More Fully Differentiated System Improving the Effectiveness of the CPS System's Response Increasing the Role of Community Partners in Child Protection The Endpoint of the Reforms Notes Index