| In the United States, the term child | | | | states must provide for the safety, |
| welfare is used to describe a set of | | | | permanency, and well-being of children |
| government services designed to protect | | | | who have been found to be abused or |
| children and encourage family stability. | | | | neglected. The Adoption and Safe |
| These typically include investigation of | | | | Families Act ASFA requires concurrent |
| alleged child abuse and neglect ("child | | | | planning in all instances in which a |
| protective services"), foster care, | | | | child is removed from a home because of |
| adoption services, and services aimed at | | | | maltreatment. It also requires that a |
| supporting at-risk families so they can | | | | permanent placement be made or planned |
| remain intact ("prevention services" or | | | | within fifteen months of removal. In |
| "family preservation services"). Though | | | | addition, in the U.S. child welfare |
| the federal government sets rules which | | | | system, when a child is freed for |
| all U.S. states must follow and provides | | | | adoption, there are incentives to |
| significant funding, the states | | | | encourage families to adopt the child. |
| themselves have primary responsibility | | | | For example, subsidies are provided |
| for establishing and operating their | | | | until the child is eighteen in certain |
| child welfare systems. | | | | circumstances, such as an older child, |
| Most children who come to the attention | | | | special needs child, etc. The subsidy |
| of child welfare social workers do so | | | | rate varies, depending on the needs of |
| because of any of the following | | | | the child. |
| situations, which are often collectively | | | | Canada / England |
| termed child maltreatment: | | | | The child can be made a permanent crown |
| Neglect (including the failure to take | | | | ward and is therefore not freed for |
| adequate measures to protect a child | | | | adoption. |
| from harm) | | | | New Zealand |
| Emotional abuse | | | | In New Zealand, where 15% of children |
| Sexual abuse | | | | are born 'at risk' children are |
| Physical abuse | | | | protected from "witnessing adult |
| The Federal government's Administration | | | | violence." The NZ authorities note: |
| for Children and Families reports that | | | | "children will not openly disclose that |
| in 2004, approximately 3.5 million | | | | they are being traumatised." |
| children were involved in investigations | | | | Effects of early maltreatment on |
| of alleged abuse or neglect, and an | | | | children in child welfare |
| estimated 872,000 children were | | | | The National Adoption Center found that |
| determined to have been abused or | | | | 52% of adoptable children (meaning those |
| neglected. An estimated 1,490 children | | | | children in U.S. foster care freed for |
| died that year because of abuse or | | | | adoption) had symptoms of attachment |
| neglect. As of September 30, 2004, there | | | | disorder. A study by Dante Cicchetti |
| were 517,000 children in the United | | | | found that 80% of abused and maltreated |
| States in foster care. | | | | infants exhibited attachment disorder |
| Historical Origins | | | | symtoms (disorganized subtype). |
| The concept of a state sanctioned child | | | | Children with histories of maltreatment, |
| welfare system dates back to Plato's | | | | such as physical and psychological |
| Republic. Plato theorised that the | | | | neglect, physical abuse, and sexual |
| interests of the child could be served | | | | abuse, are at risk of developing severe |
| by removing children from the care of | | | | psychiatric problems. These children are |
| their parents and placing them into | | | | likely to develop reactive attachment |
| state custody. To prevent an uprising | | | | disorder (RAD). These children may be |
| from dispossed parents: | | | | described as experiencing |
| "We shall have to invent some ingenious | | | | trauma-attachment problems. The trauma |
| kind of lots which the less worthy may | | | | experienced is the result of abuse or |
| draw on each occasion of our bringing | | | | neglect, inflicted by a primary |
| them together, and then they will accuse | | | | caregiver, which disrupts the normal |
| their own ill-luck and not the rulers." | | | | development of secure attachment. Such |
| International Comparisons | | | | children are at risk of developing a |
| United states | | | | disorganized attachment. Disorganized |
| In the U.S., the federal government | | | | attachment is associated with a number |
| provides some broad definitions for | | | | of developmental problems, including |
| abuse and neglect and individual states | | | | dissociative symptoms , as well as |
| develop their own guidelines for | | | | depressive, anxiety, and acting-out |
| defining and responding to allegations | | | | symptoms. |
| of abuse/neglect. Most states recognize | | | | Children who have experienced such early |
| and define physical and sexual abuse and | | | | chronic trauma often experience complex |
| neglect. Many states also recognize | | | | post-traumatic stress disorder and |
| emotional, medical, and educational | | | | require extensive and specfic treatment |
| neglect. The Adoption and Safe Families | | | | to address multi-dimensional problems |
| Act, passed in 1997, specifies that | | | | experienced by these children. |