Exploring Child Welfare: A Practice Perspective, 5th Edition

Exploring Child Welfare provides an overall look at all aspects of the provision of services for children and their families, from services that enhance and support family life to those that substitute for the child's own home.

The Fifth Edition of this accessible and engaging text continues to reflect the author's strong practice perspective and incorporates new developments in welfare reform and child welfare services.

A Brief History of Child Welfare

Abortion, Indanticide, and Abandonment
Child Labor and Education
Responsibility for Children
Advocacy in the Provision of Services for Children
The Current Picture of Child Welfare Services
Impact of Current Child Welfare Practices on Children
Services in the Twenty-First Century

Providing Services for Children Today
Summary
Exploration Questions
References

The Responsibilities and Rights of the Family
The Setting for Today's Family
Profile of Today's Family

Family Roles and Rules
Communication Patterns
Observaton of the Family as a System

Types of Families
The Emotional Climate of Families
The Impact of Culture on Families

Families with Anglo-European Roots
Families with Native American Roots
Families with African American Roots
Families with Hispanic Roots
Families with Asian Roots
Families with Middle Eastern Roots

The Family Life Cycle
Stresses on Families

Parental/Family Dysfunction
Role Definition and Inequality
Parent-Child Relations
Disability

When Families Need Help
Trends

Economic Stressors
The Optional Status of Marriage
The Vanishing Father
Blended Famiies
Resolution of Childhood Conflicts
Changes in Family Control

Summary
Exploration Questions
References

Characteristics of Poor Children
Poverty Defined
Why Children Live in Poverty
Consequences of Growing Up in Poverty

Life Stressor Factors
Health and Health Care Factors
Nutritional Factors
Environmental Factors
Educational Factors

Recent Efforts to Fight Poverty

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
Child Tax Credit
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Minimum Wage Increase
State Child Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)

The Economics of Poverty
Reducing Child Poverty

Attitudinal Changes
Complex Combination of Two-Generational Startegies

An Important Footnote
Summary
Exploration Questions
References

Children and Violence

War in the Streets
Violence in Relationships
The School as War Zone
The Home as a War Zone

Children and Substance Abuse

Addicted Parents
Addicted Children and Adolescents
Effects and Treatment of Adolescent Drug Abuse

Homeless Families

Causes of Homelessness
Homeless Families and Children
Effects of Homelessness on Children

Homeless and Runaway Youths

Changing View of Runaway and Homeless Youths
Problems and Solutions for Runaway/Homeless Youths

Summary
Exploration Questions
References

Early Education and Care Serving Infants and Preschool Children

A Brief History of Daycare Provision
Examining the Goals of Daycare Provision
Types of Daycare

School-Based Programs

Philosophy of Education
Student Support Programs: Addressing Academic, Social, and Emotional Needs
A Team Approach: Parents and Professionals as Partners
Controversial Issues and Dilemmas in the Provision of Services
Trends in the Provision of Educational Services

Summary
Exploration Questions
References

What is Counseling?

Basic Assumptions

When a Familie Might Seek Counseling

Self-Referrals
Referrals by Outside Agencies

Attitudes about Receiving Counseling

Self-Referred Clients
Clients Referred from Outside Agencies
Attitudes about Having a Problem
Ethnic and Cross-Cultural Considerations

Changing Attitudes about Counseling

Medical Model versus Holistic Model
The Impact of Feminism

Types of Counseling

The Professions
Settings

The Counseling Process

Assessment, Differential Diagnosis, and Treatment Planning
Modalities

The Experience of Counseling

Consumer Perspective
Professional Perspective

Trends in Counseling Services

External Focuses
Internal Focuses
Evolving Frontiers in Theory and Practice

Ethical Considerations in Counseling

Confidentiality
The Dilemma of Diagnosis
Training
Value System Differences
Counselor/Client Boundaries
Power
Counseling as a Healing Art versus the Business of Mental Health
Band-Aids versus Commitment to Social Change

Summary
Exploration Questions
References

Historical View

Societal Role of Children
Child Neglect throughout History
Child Labor and Maltreatment
Sexual Moves and Abuses
Efforts to Control Child Abuse

Maltreatment Defined

Physical Abuse
Phsycial Neglect
Sexual Abuse
Emotional or Physchological Abuse

Reporting Child Maltreatment

Intake
Assessment
Case Management and Treatment

Court Intervention in Protective Cases

Juvenille or Civil Court
Criminal Court
The Effect of Court Involvement on Children

The Role of the Protective Services Worker
Future of Protective Services

Narrowing of Services

Summary
Exploration Questions
References

Brief History of Family-Based Services

Almshouses and Charities
Scientific Philanthropy
Settlement House Influence
Mothers' Pensions
Public Child Welfare Services
The Emerging Concept of Permenency Planning

Demonstrating Effectiveness of Family-Based Services
Types of Family-Based Services

Family Support Services
Family Preservation Services
Kinship Care, Family Presevation or Child Placement?

Family Preservation Worker
Perserve the Family or Place the Child?
Shaping the Future of Family-Based Services

Screening of At-Risk Clients
Attention to Cultural Diversity
Selection and Training of Workers
Supervision and Consultation
Operationalism of Program Design Goals
Building Community Supports
Evaluation and Research

Summary
Exploration Questions
References

Historical Perspective

The Child Savers
Reform School Movement
The Concept of Parens Patriae
The Emergence of Juvenille Court

Situations Warranting Juvenille Court Intervention

Delinquency
Statues Offenses
Dependency, Abuse, and Neglect
Related Situations Involving Court Interventions

Factors Influencing Court Intervention
The Rights of Juvenilles

Advocating for Children

Juvenille Court Process and Procedures

Intake Stage
Adjudication Stage
Disposition Stage

The Role of the Social Worker and the Court
Consumer Perspective
Alternative Approaches to Court Intervention

Diversion

Treatment of Juvenille Offenders
Trends

Should There Be a Separate Juvenille Court?
Should Status Offenders Come under the Jurisdiction of the Juvenille Court?
What Should Be Done with Serious Offenders?

Summary
Exploration Questions
References

Definition of Terms
Historical Perspective
Through the Eyes of Society: Myths Revisited

Welfare Mothers
Medical Concerns
Development of the Children

Demographics
Teens at Risk

Family Function
Socioeconomic Status
Previous Sexual Abuse and Date Rape
Educational and Behavioral Difficulties

How Teens Make Decisions about Fertility and Childbearing
Fathers
A Teen's View
Services: Primary Prevention

Programs Focusing on Sexual Antecedents
Programs Focusing on Nonsexual Antecendents
Programs Focusing on Sexual and Nonsexual Antecedents
Culturally Sensitive Interventions

Services: Secondary Prevention

Teen Parents and Their Families
Keeping Fathers Involved
Child Care
Parenting Programs
Residential Programs

Trends in Teen Pregnancy Prevention

Legislative Initiatives
Focus on Research
Philosophical Research
The Media

Summary
Exploration Questions
References

History of Family Foster Care

Early Beginnings
Foster Care in Recent Years

The Nature of Foster Care Today

Types of Foster Homes
Reasons Children Come into Foster Care

Foster Parents

Recruitment
Homestudy and Training
Placement and Follow-Up
Stresses of Being a Foster Parent
Foster Parents as Part of the Team

Birth Parents with Children in Foster Care

Attitudes and Reactions
Rights and Responsibilites of Birth Parents
When Children Return Home

Children in Foster Care

Feelings about Placement and Separation
Feelings about Natural Parents
Feelings about Foster Parents
Life in Foster Care
Leaving Foster Care

The Role of the Foster Care Social Worker
The Future of Foster Care

Political Influences
Trends

Summary
Exploration Questions
References

The History of Adoption
Definitions and Assumptions

Types of Adoption

Issues in Adoption Today

Decreased Number of Adoptable Children
Changes in Types of Children Available for Adoption
Controversy over Agency-Assisted versus Independent Adoptions
Adoption Disruptions and the Need for Follow-Up
Openness in Adoption
Effects of Adoption on Children

Adoptive Participants

Birth Parents
Children Available for Adoption
Adoptive Applicants

The Adoptive Process

The Homestudy
Placement and Legalization
Postlegalization Services
Adoption Disruption

The Role of the Adoption Worker
The Search

Supporters of the Search
Who Searches
Search Outcome
Sealed Records
Consent Contracts

Trends

Children Available for Adoption
Permanency Planning
Placement Services for Adolescents
Resources Available
Lifelong Services

Summary
Exploration Questions
References

Historical Perspective
Assumptions about Residential Care
Types of Residential Settings

Diagnostic Services
Intense Therapeutic Services for Dependent Children
Residential Treatment Centers
Rehabilitative or Secure Treatment for Delinquents
Centers for Children with Severe Special Needs

Children in Residential Settings

Reasons for Referral
Adjustment to Placement

Life in a Residential Setting

Components of a Residential Setting
Token Economy and Phase System
The Influence of Peer Culture
Handling Crises in Residential Settings
Sexually Acting Out in Residential Care
Sexual Abuse of Children in Residential Care

Working with Families of Children in Residential Care

Motivation of Parents
Types of Family Treatment
Problems in Working with Families

The Role of Staff in a Residential Setting

Residential Staff
Educational Staff
Clinical Staff
Other Staff Functions
The Frustrations of Staff

Termination

Return Home
Placement in a Foster Home or a Less Restrictive Environment
Placement in a More Restrictive Setting
Hospitalization
Independent Living

Problems within Residential Settings

Staff Issues
Abuse in Residential Settings

Problems for Residential Centers within the Community

Community Support
Detriments to Residentially Placed Youths' Education

Trends

Population Served Requires a Change in Emphasis
Restriction in Funding
More Effective Evaluation
Family Involvement

Summary
Exploration Questions
References

What is in Our Children's Future?

Children's Status
Children in Poverty
Children at Risk
Children and Health
Children and Education

Preparing Those Who Help Children
Child Welfare in the Twenty-First Century
Summary
Exploration Questions
References