Child Welfare: History and Policy
Child Welfare: History and Policy
- Christina Paddock, Christina PaddockUniversity of Southern California
- Debra Waters-RomanDebra Waters-RomanUniversity of Southern California
- , and Jessica BorjaJessica BorjaUniversity of Southern California
Summary
Child welfare services in the United States evolved from voluntary “child saving” efforts in the 19th century into a system of largely government-funded interventions aimed at identifying and protecting children from maltreatment, preserving the integrity of families that come to the attention of child welfare authorities, and finding permanent homes for children who cannot safely remain with their families. Since the 1970s, the federal government has played an increasing role in funding and creating the policy framework for child welfare practice. Today, communities of color receive a disproportionate amount of attention from child welfare services, yet often have access to fewer resources.
Keywords
Subjects
- Children and Adolescents
- Macro Practice
- Policy and Advocacy
- Populations and Practice Settings
Updated in this version
Content and references updated for the Encyclopedia of Macro Social Work.
