For the last two decades, Ontario has encountered escalating degrees of neo-liberal economic impetus. Many of these reforms targeted social benefits, which led to marginalization of certain sections of the society (Dumbrill, 2006). Political views and interests of the dominant policy community predominantly influence policy making (Yee, 2005). The underrepresentation of marginalized sections of society in the Ontario child welfare policy calls for an anti-oppression approach to policy making and service delivery. This essay will discuss the context of the present problems in Ontario’s child welfare policies, with a particular emphasis on analyzing the effects of anti-oppression paradigm in dealing with the Ontario’s child welfare problems and service delivery. This essay is divided into three sections. The first section will articulate anti-oppression perspective and why it is crucial to child welfare. It will also examine the shifts in the Ontario’s child welfare policy. The second section will describe and analyze what an anti-oppression approach to the child welfare in Ontario will look like. …show more content…
Historically the policies have seen to be swinging back and forth between family preservation and child safety (Dumbrill, 2006). This pendulum is currently in a risk reduction and inspectorial position. The child welfare system has often been under the microscope of public eye for forcing dominant values on marginalized communities (Yee, 2005). As a result, the child welfare system has the capability to reinforce inequalities that the parents and children may already be experiencing. Additionally the practice of child welfare and social work predominantly adopts a top-down approach (Gray & Fook, 2004; Razack & Badwall, 2006). In order to respond to such systemic and structural inequalities, an anti-oppression approach to social welfare is
The Toronto Star published an article reporting that Toronto currently has the highest rate of children living in households that are considered low income in Canada (Monsebraaten, 2015). The article reports that in Toronto the child poverty rate is higher than the poverty rate of any other age group. This paper will discuss child poverty, how this is a challenge to public health practices and policies, and finally, discuss potential solutions for public policy that address this issue.
“ The major role of the Child Welfare System in the twenty- first century is to insure the safety, permanency, and well being of
The question on the minds of a lot of people is: “Should child welfare regulations be
All children and young people have a right to be protected from abuse regardless of their age, gender, disability, culture, language, race, faith, belief or sexual orientation. All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately. Working in partnership with other organisations, children and young people and their parents and carers is essential. Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined has protection of children from maltreatment & preventing impairment of childrenâ€TMs health or development. Ensuring those children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care, and undertaking that role so as to enable those children to have
In 1980, about 500,000 children were in foster care, but a series of successful reforms began with that year 's Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act which dramatically decreased the number of children in foster care. But in the early 1990s, with the advent of crack cocaine and an economic recession numbers went back up. Child welfare advocates said that the foster care system was in need of changes so that children spend less time in foster placements and that America’s child welfare system needed an improvement. Some children in care were separated from their siblings, others transitioned from one foster care placement to another, never knowing where to call home. Too many children were being abused in systems that were supposed to protect them. Instead of being safely reunified with their families or moved quickly into adoptive homes many remained in foster homes or institutions for years.
Neglect and abuse towards children still occurs in society today as it did in pre-industrial times. Adult control over children can take the extreme form of physical neglect, or physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. Some may say due to figures from charities such as Child Line rising there is a ‘dark side’ to family life, where children are victims. This shows in some cases the status of children hasn’t changed over time.
For 30 years, advocates, program administrators, and politicians have joined to encourage even more reports of suspected child abuse and neglect. Their efforts have been successful, with about three million cases of suspected child abuse having been reported in 1993. Large numbers of endangered children still go unreported, but a serious problem had developed: Upon investigation, as many as 65 percent or the reports now being made are determined to be "unsubstantiated", raising serious civil liberties concerns and placing a huge burden on investigative staffs.
This essay will identify a case I have been involved in and have continuously had to assess whilst on placement. It will refer to a child who will be identified as A. A is a young carer and has only recently returned home after being removed from his mothers care due to her having a substance abuse problem and mental health concerns. I will link the legal framework that was relevant to this case study and describe actions taken. Additionally these actions will demonstrate the application of social work methods and theories that were contributive elements in his intervention, offering explanations as to why these particular methods were used. Before closing, the essay will review any issues of discrimination with a reflection of the
The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1974 was originally created to protect a target population of children, under the age of 18, from child abuse and neglect; however, over the years this act has been amended and improved to protect a wider population, with many specific subpopulations, over the past 42 years. In the original text of the act, two specific populations are addressed with different goals: reducing the rate of child abuse in children under the age of eighteen, and improving the treatment of children who had been maltreated or neglected (National Low Income Housing Coalition, 2014). It is easy to see that this act and policies within it are aimed at protecting children specifically, yet looking only at the children,
Child protection systems are services run by individual governments designed to protect children and to encourage stability within families (Bartollas, 2008). The emphasis of a family setup is consistent with many protection systems as they provide the best environment for development. For this reason, courts make judgements to allow abused children to return to their families where such abuse can be eradicated or prevented. It is not common for courts to allow children to remain with the family where serious cases of abuse are evident (Bartollas,
Child welfare is one of the most important sociological topics today. It is a concept that is used to describe the combination of efforts and services that are designed with the primary objective of maintaining and promoting the safety as well as the wellbeing of children and ensuring that families have the necessary support they need to ensure that their children have been successfully cared for. In essence, child welfare is social work that is focused on the welfare of children (Keddell, 2014). Child welfare is a broad topic that involves, among others, child protection from abuse, support for families to effectively care for their children, investigation of child maltreatments and neglect, and support for children in
The Term topic I chose to research about is Child Welfare Services. This topic has a variety of different regulations and forms that makes this program run. Child Welfare Services have been around for quite some time and has been helping out as much as they are allowed to. This program has a time line of many important events that all build up the Child Welfare program.
Accounting for the costs of foster care is only one part of the assessment of the foster care system. States must be held accountable for the effects of the system in order to better allocate their finances, provide adequate services, make better decisions, and operate more efficiently. The model of the Department of Social Services is that Children Service Workers utilize the finances distributed towards the department to yield a desired output for the client and reduce child maltreatment. The inputs and outputs of the system do not fully describe the problems associated with in it. Essentially, only resources provided to a family, as stated in the model, are believed to yield a desirable outcome for the client. The mission of the system is used to state the hopes of the program, and implement strategies in order to fulfill the mission of the agency. Such methods may include case management, court services, mental health
Living in different countries, we always wonder if everyday life routines are the same. Some of these routines, would include education, social life, and most important of all career perspectives. Rules and procedures vary from the different business you apply to however do the different rules and procedures vary from the countries that business thrive from? The purpose of this essay is to describe the differences and similarities from the National Association of Social Workers and the International Federation of Social Workers.
Child welfare is an issue that is vastly debated today in the United States. Regardless of party lines, socioeconomics, gender, religion, or race, it seems like everyone has a stake in shaping this issue. As such, progression in policy can be difficult and is often controversial. Throughout the 1900s, the United States Supreme Court heard and decided several cases that set forth precedent, giving more power to, and enabling, parents to raise their children as they see fit. As constituents, parents have a substantial say in what policy should and will be enacted. However, as individuals, parents do not have nearly as much power alone as they do in groups to influence public policy. Therefore, by banning together and creating interest groups, as well as participating in political parties, individuals who have an interest in child welfare, are more likely to make a substantial difference.