Child Welfare and Family Services: Policies and Practice » (8th Edition)

This thorough revision of Child Welfare and Family Services reflects current issues, controversies, and innovative practice methods in both family and child services. It provides a strong historical context to current programs, issues, and policy decisions; as well as in-depth information on legal and legislative frameworks.

A new chapter on child welfare practice, including an expanded treatment of foster care, provides a foundation for social work interventions with children. In addition, new and updated information covers topics such as; child welfare issues with immigrant families, child outcome measurements, forensic interviewing, advocacy, court documentation, federal legislation, child welfare in a global context, cultural competence, protective/preventive services, day care/child development programs, income security, kinship care, family preservation, and adoption.

Preface     viii
An Introduction to Family and Child Services     1
The Changing American Family     3
Problems of Children and Young Persons     4
Rights and Responsibilities     7
Historical Highlights of Services to Families and Children     12
Public Policies for Families and Children     17
Child and Family Services     19
Race and Ethnicity in Child Welfare     22
The Organization of Services     23
Trends and Issues     27
Chapter Summary     31
For Study and Discussion     32
Internet Sites     32
References     33
Government Programs to Support Families and Children     37
Case Example: Welfare Reform Creates Hard Choices for Mothers     38
Family Income Security     39
Nature of Poverty among Children     39
Public Assistance: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families     42
Background of the TANF Program     42
Work and Family Supports     46
Assessment of Welfare Reform     49
Supporting Families with Day Care and Child Development Programs     52
Measuring the Well-Being of America's Children     58
Trends and Issues     60
Chapter Summary     64
For Study and Discussion     65
Internet Sites     65
References     66
Services to Prevent Maltreatment and Support Families     70
Case Example: Reaching Out to a Family at Risk for Child Maltreatment     71
Need for Preventive and Family Support Services     72
The Many Faces of Family Life     73
Culturally Diverse Families     76
Framework for Preventive and Family Support Services     83
Family Support Services     92
Prevention Programs for Children and Adolescents     98
Community Approaches     101
Trends and Issues     106
Chapter Summary     107
For Study and Discussion     108
Internet Sites     109
References     109
Child Welfare Principles and Practices     117
Case Example- The Jones Family     118
Introduction     124
Fundamental Principles of Child Welfare Practice     127
The Casework Process     129
Basic Tasks in Child Welfare Practice     135
Trends and Issues     145
Chapter Summary      146
For Study and Discussion     147
Internet Sites     147
References     147
Law and Procedure: Court Intervention with Children, Youth, and Families     150
Introduction     151
The Juvenile Court Movement     151
The Family Court Movement     157
The Criminal Court Movement     158
The Structure of the Legal System     159
Legal Matters for the Child Welfare System     163
Court Procedures     169
The Role of the Caseworker in the Court Process     175
Trends and Issues     182
Chapter Summary     183
For Study and Discussion     183
Internet Sites     184
References     185
Protecting Children from Neglect and Abuse     188
Case Example: A Protective Services Investigation     189
Incidence     191
Aims and Special Attributes of Child Protective Services     192
Historical Development of Protective Services     194
The Definitional Dilemma     196
Reporting Child Maltreatment     199
An Ecological View of Child Maltreatment     202
Types of Child Maltreatment      207
Consequences of Child Maltreatment     220
The Practice of Child Protection     222
Aspects of Community Support and Influence     228
Trends and Issues     230
Chapter Summary     230
For Study and Discussion     232
Internet Sites     232
References     233
Family Preservation Services     240
Case Example: Using Intensive Family-Based Services to Prevent Placement     241
Controversy Concerning Family Preservation Philosophy and Services     242
Characteristics of Family Preservation Services     243
Programs That Prevent Placement and Preserve Families     245
The Practice of Family-Based Services     248
Other Approaches That Help High-Risk Families     253
Evaluation of Family Preservation Programs     255
Kinship Care as Family Preservation     257
Trends and Issues     266
Chapter Summary     266
For Study and Discussion     267
Internet Sites     268
References     268
Foster Care: History, Laws, Policies, and Structure     273
Why Children Are Placed in Care     275
Characteristics of Children in Care      276
Basic Characteristics of Foster Care     277
Historical Development     278
Child Welfare Reforms in the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries     280
Federal Role in Child Welfare     284
State Role in Child Welfare     294
Foster Care Placement Options     294
Professional Issues in Foster Care     304
Trends and Issues     311
Chapter Summary     314
For Study and Discussion     315
Internet Sites     316
References     317
Foster Care Practice and Issues     326
Introduction     327
Concurrent Planning     329
Working with the Placement Process     334
Team Decision Making     339
Working with Parents     342
Other Permanency Options     349
Meeting the Needs of Children in Foster Care     354
Children Requiring Therapeutic Interventions     362
Children Requiring Intensive Casework Services     363
Preparing Youth for Independent Living and Aging Out     366
Supervision in Foster Care     367
Trends and Issues     370
Chapter Summary     371
For Study and Discussion     372
Internet Sites     373
References     373
Families by Adoption     387
Case Example: Helping an Older Child Use Adoption     388
The Changing World of Adoption     390
Historical Development     391
Some Adoption Facts and Patterns     394
Underlying Principles of the Agency Adoptive Process     395
The Experience of Adoption     396
The Legal Framework for Adoption     400
Postadoption Services     402
Adoption of Children from the Public Child Welfare System     408
Adoption of Children of Color     414
Intercountry Adoptions     423
Trends and Issues     428
Chapter Summary     431
For Study and Discussion     432
Internet Sites     433
References     434
Juvenile Delinquents: The Community's Dilemma     441
Case Example     442
Juvenile Offender Categories     443
Scope of the Problem     444
Historical Development of Juvenile Delinquency Services     446
Risk Factors for Delinquency     450
Juvenile Delinquency Prevention and Intervention Strategies      453
The Female Juvenile Offender     458
Trends and Issues     460
Chapter Summary     466
For Study and Discussion     467
Internet Sites     468
References     468
Professional Responsibilities: Ethics and Advocacy     473
Case Example: Balancing Client Advocacy and Ethical Requirements     474
Professional Responsibility     476
Special Issues in Child Welfare Practice     485
Child Advocacy     488
Trends and Issues     510
Chapter Summary     511
For Study and Discussion     511
Internet Sites     513
References     514
Name Index     517
Subject Index     523