The Child Welfare Challenge: Policy, Practice, and Research

by Pecora; Peter J

• ISBN13: 9780202361260
• ISBN10: 0202361268
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2001-01-31
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

This newly revised and updated edition of a widely adopted text continues to address a broad array of issues in supporting children and strengthening families. It includes key information about federal legislation as well as policy-related outcomes research in child welfare. The first edition of The Child Welfare Challenge was hailed by Social Work as "an excellent source from which to gain an in-depth understanding of the practice and policy dimensions of child maltreatment, foster care, and adoption" and by the Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare as "essential reading for anyone interested in knowing more about child welfare practice in social work." Within a historical and contemporary context, this book examines major policy, practice, and research issues as they jointly shape current child welfare practice and possible future directions. In addition to describing the major challenges facing the child welfare field, the book highlights some of the service innovations that have been developed, as these could be used to help address some of these challenges. In child welfare the focus is on families and children whose primary recourse to services has been through publicly funded agencies. The contributors consider historical areas of service--foster care and adoptions, in-home family-centered services, child-protective services, and residential services--in which social work has a legitimate, long-standing, and important mission. This is a comprehensive book, but one that appreciates the fact that many areas, such as daycare and early intervention, invite exploration. It is unique in that each chapter describes how policy initiatives and research can or should influence program design and implementation. Peter J. Pecora is manager of research for the Casey Family Programs and professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Washington. James K. Whittaker is professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Washington. Anthony N. Maluccio is professor in the Graduate School of Social Work at Boston College. Richard P. Barth is Frank Daniels Distinguished Professor in the School of Social Work, North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Robert D. Plotnick is professor in the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs and adjunct professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Washington.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Acknowledgments	xv
The Purpose and Goals of Child Welfare Services
Child Welfare Services as a Critical and Changing Resource for Families in America	1	(3)
Philosophical Underpinnings of Child Welfare Services	4	(4)
Mission and Goals of Child Welfare Services	8	(1)
Key Goals and Outcomes for Child Welfare Services	9	(4)
Significant Costs and Complex Family Situations: Crucial System Challenges	13	(1)
Practice Transformations	14	(6)
Conclusion	20	(1)
Notes	20	(1)
For Further Information	20	(1)
Understanding the Policy Context for Child Welfare
Introduction	21	(1)
What Is Policy?	22	(3)
Some Population Statistics from the 1990 Decennial Census	25	(1)
Family Issues and Trends	26	(3)
Major National Legislation That Has Helped Shape Child Welfare Services	29	(23)
Substance Abuse, Imprisonment of Women, and HIV: Policy Implications	52	(5)
Opportunities for Policy Practice	57	(3)
Conclusion	60	(1)
Notes	61	(1)
For Further Information	62	(3)
Child and Family-Centered Services
Conceptual Framework for Family-Centered Practice	65	(13)
Applying a Family-Centered Practice	78	(3)
Establishing a Continuum of Services	81	(7)
Conclusion	88	(4)
Notes	92	(1)
For Further Information	93	(3)
Economic Security for Families with Children
The Economic Status of Families with Children	96	(6)
Child Maltreatment and Other Consequences of Poverty	102	(2)
Policies to Reduce Child Poverty	104	(17)
Program Challenge: Doing a Better Job of Reducing Poverty and Increasing Economic Security among Children	121	(3)
Conclusion	124	(1)
Notes	125	(1)
For Further Information	126	(2)
Child Maltreatment Incidence, the Casework Process, and Services for Physically Abused Children
Introduction	128	(1)
Conceptualizing Child Maltreatment	128	(3)
Definition and Incidence of Child Maltreatment in the United States	131	(3)
Who Is Served? Current Statistical Data on Child Abuse and Neglect	134	(6)
Child Maltreatment Severity and Reporting	140	(1)
Child Protective Services as a Major Program Area in Child Welfare	141	(2)
Intake in Child Welfare and Child Protective Services	143	(4)
Theoretical Perspectives Regarding the Contributing Factors to Child Maltreatment	147	(4)
Physical Abuse	151	(6)
Treatment of Physical Abuse	157	(3)
Program Challenges	160	(3)
Recommendations for CPS Program Improvement	163	(5)
Conclusion	168	(1)
Notes	168	(1)
For Further Information	169	(2)
Sexual Abuse: Prevention and Treatment
Introduction	171	(12)
Treatment of Sexual Abuse	183	(8)
Current Program Challenges	191	(2)
Conclusion	193	(1)
Notes	193	(1)
For Further Information	194	(2)
Child Neglect and Psychological Maltreatment
Physical Neglect	196	(13)
Nonorganic Failure to Thrive as a Special Case of Neglect	209	(6)
Psychological Maltreatment	215	(11)
Current Policy, Practice, and Research Issues in Neglect and Psychological Maltreatment	226	(1)
Conclusion	227	(1)
Notes	228	(1)
For Further Information	228	(1)
Family Support and Other Preventive Services Related to Child Welfare
Introduction	229	(1)
A Framework for Prevention	230	(1)
A Program Typology of Family Support and Family-Based Services	231	(8)
Family Resource, Support, and Education Services	239	(19)
Conclusion	258	(3)
Notes	261	(1)
For Further Information	261	(1)
Family-Based and Intensive Family Preservation Services
Introduction	262	(2)
Family-Based Services	264	(1)
History of Family-Based Services	265	(10)
Intervention Components	275	(16)
Selected Program Implementation Challenges in Family-Based and Intensive Family Preservation Services	291	(3)
Conclusion	294	(1)
Notes	295	(1)
For Further Information	296	(2)
Family Foster Care
Evolution of Family Foster Care	298	(5)
Definition and Purpose of Family Foster Care	303	(2)
Children and Youth in Family Foster Care and Their Families	305	(9)
Professionalization of Foster Parents	314	(4)
Training of Social Workers and Foster Parents	318	(1)
Effectiveness of Services	319	(5)
Current Status of Family Foster Care	324	(2)
Conclusion	326	(1)
Notes	327	(1)
For Further Information	328	(2)
Family Reunification
An Expanded Definition of Family Reunification	330	(2)
Underlying Principles and Guidelines	332	(3)
Family Reunification Competencies	335	(3)
Effectiveness of Family Reunification Services	338	(9)
Kinship Care	347	(8)
The Reunification of Very Young Children from Foster Care	355	(4)
Recurring Issues and Dilemmas	359	(1)
Conclusion	360	(1)
Notes	361	(1)
For Further Information	361	(2)
Adoption
Introduction	363	(6)
Major Adoption Legislation	369	(9)
Current Adoption Practice	378	(13)
Model Practices and Programs	391	(11)
Current Program Challenges	402	(1)
Conclusion	403	(1)
For Further Information	404	(2)
Residential Group Care Services
The Ambivalence Toward Group Child Care as a Helping Service	406	(5)
The Research Base for Group Child Care	411	(8)
Varieties of Residential Services	419	(7)
Future Challenges for Residential Child and Youth Care Services	426	(3)
Conclusion	429	(2)
Organizational Requisites for Child Welfare Services
Introduction	431	(2)
Establishing a Clear Agency Mission, Philosophy, and Program Objectives	433	(4)
Recruitment, Selection, and Training of Child Welfare Personnel	437	(2)
Challenges to Professionalizing Child Welfare Staff	439	(8)
Specifying Measurable Performance Criteria and Appraisal Methods	447	(1)
Evaluation of Services	448	(2)
Providing Quality Supervision	450	(4)
Addressing Organizational and Worker Liability	454	(2)
Conclusion	456	(1)
Notes	456	(1)
For Further Information	457	(1)
Appendix A: Special Issues in Child Abuse and Neglect
Historical Overview of CPS in the United States	458	(3)
Child Abuse and Neglect	461	(6)
Special Groups and Child Maltreatment	467	(2)
CPS Intake Challenges	469	(7)
Risk Assessment Concepts and Issues	476	(4)
Cultural Issues in Child Protective Services	480	(2)
Conclusion	482	(3)
References	485	(84)
Subject Index	569	(16)
Author Index	585