Do Human Service Agencies Protect Children Effectively
While in the 1960s and 1970s, child sexual abuse and child abuse in general was almost invisible, in the 1980s and 1990s, it is a constant in the pages of newspapers and magazines, and in portrayals on television and in movies. It sometimes appears that there has been a radical increase in the abuse of children, although experts believe most of this is the result of better reporting and changes in the perception of abuse. Still, there is a need for response; often that response leads to an intervention by human service agencies, including the possibility of removing the child from the home. How effective are these agencies in protecting children and improving their situation? The intention in the following pages is to look at the evolution of child welfare concepts, explore the current state of human service agency activity regarding children, and come to some conclusion about the effectiveness of human service agencies in protecting children.
Evolution of human service departments/child welfare protection:
The history of formal governmental involvement in the provision of welfare services, including child welfare services, is a short one. In Europe, before the Middle Ages, the responsibility for the poor and sick primarily belonged to feudal leaders. After that, the church was primarily responsible for developing such services, along with a few public institutions. The government did not begin to become involved in developing legislation and institutions until the late Middle Ages. Institutions that were typically established were hospitals, asylums, and poor houses. The first distinctive secular legislation was the Elizabethan Poor Law of 1601. This legislation defined "poor" and established available services. Basically, it provided for taxation of the inhabitants in order to develop work opportunities for the poor, including children of unfit parents. On...