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Child Welfare Protection Policy

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The child welfare protection field comprises a group of individuals, institutions, and

organizations that aim at protecting children who are 18 years and below. The above groups of

individuals and organizations are committed to responding swiftly to child abuse reports and

child neglect. Additionally, the field aims to create intervention before child abuse and child

neglect have taken place and help children thrive inside and outside foster care. A child

protection policy comprises several components that aid in keeping children and youths safe. The

agency comprises specific child protection protocols and the guidelines for reporting incidents of

child abuse and neglect. Also, the policy comprises ways on how staff and volunteers are trained

to handle the role of protecting the children and the rules to be followed when printing

information concerning child protection (Child protection policy, 2020). In this paper, one will

look at the social problem being addressed, social, economic, and political analysis of the social

problem and the policy, and later look at the reforms.

The policy stipulates that all staff and volunteers must attend annual training on child

protection. Additionally, all new volunteers and staff are trained on how to remain committed to

the policy and protocols in protecting the children from abuse (Child protection policy, 2020).

According to child welfare protection policy, child abuse is any situation that places a child in an

uncomfortable situation that has a profound effect on their physical or mental health, dignity, or

development. The policy mentions four main types of child abuse. The first type of child abuse is

physical abuse which entails biting, hitting, kicking, burning, etc. The second type of abuse is

child neglect, and it occurs when a parent or guardian fails to provide for good health, food,

shelter, education, and safe living conditions. The third type of child abuse is emotional abuse
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which entails yelling, constant rejection, verbal abuse, and bullying. The fourth type of abuse is

sexual abuse, where an adult uses a child for sexual stimulation (Child protection policy, 2020).

Children who are victims of child abuse tend to develop low self-esteem, increased guilt

and fear, find it hard to form relationships, may develop mental health disorders such as post-

traumatic stress, depression disorders, and anxiety. Additionally, victims of child abuse may have

suicidal thoughts, disrupted attachments to people keeping them safe, and aggressive and violent

ways such as criminal behaviors. Thus, child welfare protection policy aims to protect children

from abuse to avoid the negative impacts associated with child abuse. Therefore, the policy has

five guiding principles towards child protection.

The five basic guiding principles towards child protection includes the following. First,

the policy has zero tolerance towards child abuse. Second, the policy is committed to protecting

children's interests and rights. Third, the policy places the child as a priority when dealing with

suspected or identified child abuse cases. Fourth, the child welfare protection policy aims to

empower and educate children about their rights and safety measures and provide them with

steps to take when in such a problem. Lastly, the policy integrates child protection in matters of

organizational strategy, work practices, and structures.

Under child protection protocols, each field office must have its child protection

protocols based on the child protection policies and the guiding principles. The protocols

comprise several items. First, the protocols must have local laws on child abuse. Second, the

protocol contains necessary procedures as per the local laws. Third, it entails the names of local

authorities who receive reported cases of child abuse. Fourth, it contains a list of supporting

organizations that help in providing support services for the victims. Based on the reporting

incidents, the policy requires that the interest of the children be given priority. All incidents are to
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be in a confidential manner that does not attract harm to both the victims and the person handling

the case. Additionally, the incident cases are to be reported immediately.

Historical analysis

During the mid -19th century, there were many societal concerns about parental authority

in a child's life. The many changes in children's needs made religious leaders question the

wisdom of allowing kids to live in an unsafe environment in their homes. During this time, they

had been a lot of cases involving child abuse in the united states. At the end of the 19th century, a

child rescue was established to investigate child exploitation, neglect, and cruelty. Child welfare

gain popularity in media and public concern in the event of Mary Ellen Wilson (Courtney, 2013).

She was a young girl who was rescued by Henry Bergh, the leader of the New York chapter of

the American Society for the prevention of cruelty to animals. Bergh rescued the young girl from

her abusive caregivers in the year 1874 (Courtney, 2013).

After Mary and other children's intervention, Bergh collaborated with other people to

establish the New York society for the prevention of cruelty to children (NYSPCC). In the

following years, many large cities founded several organizations that served the same purpose as

NYSPCC. The court is said to have given them judicial power to remove children from the

unsafe environment and place them in foster care or children's institutions. However, early SPP

made little effort to rehabilitate these children's parents since they believed that they could not be

helped (Courtney, 2013).

After decades, it came Charles Loring Brace, who founded the children's Aid Society

(CAS). His motivation came from his commitment to protestant religious charity work and what

he witnessed during his charitable work. Charles decided to found CAS since he had witnessed
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poor living conditions in five neighborhoods of New York. Immigrants lived in these

neighborhoods, and they had to take care of themselves in the streets. Charles thought it was a

good idea to give these families a better place away from the city's evils. In 1854, CAS took in

orphans and children from families that had relinquished their rights to CAS, and they were put

in orphans' trains. The trains took the children to rural areas where other families could come and

take them (Courtney, 2013).

In society today, state, local law, and local child welfare agencies provide child welfare

services under the US's child welfare protection policy. The government of the United States

contributes to these policies and programs by providing funds. Child welfare services are

required to use the funds in ways that are stipulated by federal law. Additionally, the fundamental

laws that influence how child welfare services should be conducted include the following. The

child abuse prevention and treatment act (CAPTA) was established in 1974 to represent the

government's commitment to protecting children from abuse. The act provides funds to children's

welfare services. It also provides grants to non-profit organizations and public agencies. The

social security act provides the legal frameworks which must be adhered to when coming up

with child welfare services. Additionally, they offer funds in support of child protection. The IV-

B and IV-E also provide the legal framework for child welfare services (Batty, 2005).

Social analysis

Child abuse occurs when a parent, a guardian, or a caregiver causes emotional harm,

injury, death, or risk of serious health to a child. There are four types of child abuse. First, a child

can experience physical abuse. Physical abuse entails physical harm or injury such as biting,

choking, burning, and so forth. Physical abuse can be a result of a deliberate action to cause

physical pain or excessive punishment. Many abusive caregivers claim that their actions are
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meant to discipline the children. There are three elements of physical abuse. First, it is

unpredictable- the child has no idea what will set the caregiver off. Second, abusive caregivers

act out of anger. Third, the caregiver instills fear to command control over the child. The second

type of child abuse is sexual abuse. Sexual abuse is associated with shame and guilt. It does not

always have to involve body contact. When one exposes a child to sexual materials or situations

is also referred to as sexual abuse. Victims of sexual abuse tend to feel shameful and guilty.

Additionally, they get scared and fail to form relationships with other genuine people (Child

protection policy, 2020).

The third form of child abuse is emotional abuse. Examples of emotional abuse include

the following. First, constant shaming, belittling, and humiliating. Second, rejecting a child or

giving silent treatment is a form of punishment. Third, constant yelling, threatening, and bullying

of a child. Fourth, a child being exposed to violence. Fifth, name-calling and making negative

comments about a child. Lastly, child neglect is the fourth type of child abuse. Child neglect is a

common type of abuse. It occurs when the caregiver or a parent fails to provide the basic needs

such as education, adequate food, shelter, clothing, and hygiene to a child (Smith, Robinson, &

Segal, 2020).

Studies have provided warning signs that indicate all forms of child abuse. All the

stakeholders are thus advised to watch out for the warning signs of child abuse. If identified, they

should report to the intended authority for necessary action to be taken. Warning signs of

emotional abuse include the following. First, the child may show extreme behavior such as

passive-aggressive and demanding. Second, the child may seem to be distant from the parent or

caregiver. Third, the child may seem withdrawn, anxious, and constantly in fear. Fourth, the child

may exhibit inappropriately adult actions such as taking care of other children. Warning signs of
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physical abuse include the following. First, the child may be having frequent cuts, bruises, and

burns. Second, the child may seem to be alert as if he or she is waiting for something bad to

happen. Third, the child may way inappropriate clothing’s to hide the injuries. Fourth, the child

may shy away from being touched. Other's ways of measuring child abuse include official

reports of maltreatment and survey evidence (Smith, Robinson, & Segal, 2020).

There are several warning signs for child neglect. First, the child tends to wear ill-fitting

and torn clothing. Second, the child tends to have bad hygiene. Third, the child tends to miss

school or constantly come to school late. Fourth, the child may be left to play in unsafe places or

left alone. Fifth, the child may have untreated injuries or illnesses (Doyle, & Aizer, 2018).

Warning signs for sexual abuse include the following. First, the child may have trouble sitting or

walking. Second, the child may exhibit inappropriate sexual acts. Third, a child may have been

pregnant or have an STD, especially those under 14. Fourth, a child may make greater efforts to

avoid a specific person. Fifth, the child may not want to participate in physical activities or

change in front of others. Children at the age of 18 and below are mostly affected by the social

problem stated above, and that's why the problem has been identified as child abuse. According

to a statistic carried out in the US, in 2015, there were 683,221 reported cases of child abuse. In

2016, there were 671,176 cases; in 2017, it reported 673,630 cases; in 2018, 677, 464 cases, and

2019 there were 656,243 reported cases (Courtney, 2013).

Child welfare protection policy incorporates education as a strategy of preventing child

abuse. The policy incorporates the following goals. First, it trains all the stakeholders, such as

children, staff, and volunteers, to identify and prevent child abuse. Second, it provides

opportunities where children can learn about their rights and how to protect themselves if there is

a problem. Third, it encourages stakeholders such as the community, children, and staff to report
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child abuse and child neglect cases. Fourth, it allows all children and youth to participate in the

programs regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or ethnicity. Fifth, it

incorporates other child protection measures to reach a broader audience as it emphasizes the

importance of protecting the children.

Economic analysis

A cost-benefit analysis is carried out to calculate a return on investment from a program

or policy such as a child welfare protection policy. It is used to compare different outcomes from

different programs or policies. The child protection policy creates several benefits. First, it

reduces health and mental costs. Second, the costs of out-of-home services are reduced. Third, it

promotes increase earning of the child’s family members (Peterson, Florence, Thomas, &

Klevens, 2018).

Political analysis

Major stakeholders regarding this policy include public agencies, federal law,

communities, service providers, families, and children (Courtney, 2013). The power base of the

policy is non-other than the federal law. The political aspect of the implementation of the policy

includes the following. The child abuse and prevention treatment act dictate that for a program to

receive the funds, it must meet several requirements. First, it should incorporate statutes that

prohibit child abuse. Second, it should build a child abuse reporting system. Third, it dictates that

the policy should have an agency that investigates cases of child abuse. Fourth, it should provide

immunity to individuals who report or suspect cases of child abuse. Fifth, the policy should

maintain the confidentiality of the data collected in the child abuse reporting system (Parton,

2014).
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Policy evaluation

Child protection policy outcomes include the following. First, a child gets to live in a safe

and supportive family. Second, children and families receive adequate support in the promotion

of the safety of the children. Third, the risk factors associated with the social problem are

addressed. Fourth, victims of child abuse get the necessary support they need and the care

needed for their safety. Fifth, indigenous children are provided with support and kept safe in their

families and communities. Sixth, prevention of child abuse and victims are given enough

support.

Current proposals for reform

A review on child protection led by the government was made to adopt and implement a

reform program that aims at improving the quality of standards towards child welfare protection.

The reform also aims at developing a continuum that works towards early intervention and

prevention of child abuse from the age of 18 and below. As we move into the future, I suggest

that the following measures should be incorporated. First, the legislation can provide new OOHC

standards. Second, a compliance framework for child protection should be developed further.

Third, there should be a common assessment framework method that all agencies can use.

Fourth, and most importantly, there should be continuous efforts to improve child protection

services (Smith, Robinson, & Segal, 2020).

Conclusion

A child welfare protection policy aims at protecting a child from physical abuse, sexual

abuse, child neglect, and emotional abuse. The fight against child abuse began in the mid -19th

century; there were many societal concerns about parental authority in a child's life. The many
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changes in children's needs made religious leaders question the wisdom of allowing kids to live

in an unsafe environment in their homes. Child abuse occurs when a parent, a guardian, or a

caregiver causes emotional harm, injury, death, or risk of serious health to a child. Child welfare

protection policy incorporates education as a strategy of preventing child abuse. Studies have

provided warning signs that indicate all forms of child abuse. All the stakeholders are thus

advised to watch out for the warning signs of child abuse. If identified, they should report to the

intended authority for necessary action to be taken. The child protection policy creates several

benefits. First, it reduces health and mental costs. Second, the costs of out-of-home services are

reduced. Third, it promotes increase earning of the child's family member. Major stakeholders

regarding this policy include the public agencies, the federal law, the communities, service

providers, families, and children. Child protection policy outcomes ensure that a child gets to

live in a safe and supportive family, children and families receive adequate support in the

promotion of safety of the children, and the risk factors associated with the social problem are

addressed. A review on child protection led by the government was made to adopt and implement

a reform program that aims at improving the quality of standards towards child welfare

protection.
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References

(2020). Child protection policy. Retrieved from https://www.children.org/child-protection-policy

Batty, D. (2005). A history of child protection. Retrieved from

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2005/may/18/childrensservices2

Courtney, M. E. (2013). Child welfare: History and policy framework. In Encyclopedia of Social

Work.

Doyle Jr, J. J., & Aizer, A. (2018). Economics of child protection: Maltreatment, foster care, and

intimate partner violence. Annual review of economics, 10, 87-108.

Parton, N. (2014). The changing politics and practice of child protection and safeguarding in

England. In Thatcher’s Grandchildren? (pp. 45-68). Palgrave Macmillan, London.

Peterson, C., Florence, C., Thomas, R., & Klevens, J. (2018). Cost-benefit analysis of two child

abuse and neglect primary prevention programs for US states. Prevention Science, 19(6),

705-715.

Smith, M., Robinson, L., & Segal, J. (2020). Child Abuse and Neglect. Retrieved from

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/abuse/child-abuse-and-neglect.htm