Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-mlc7c Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-03T00:57:50.106Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

What's wrong with child welfare?: An examination of current practices that harm children

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 February 2016

Meredith Kiraly
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This paper outlines the growing awareness of one experienced professional in the out-of-home care field regarding some of the deleterious practices of the present time. While much good practice exists in this field, it is the author's contention that entrenched attitudes which convey insensitivity and discrimination towards children and young people in care are still all too frequent; and that these attitudes continue to militate against meeting the essential needs of children and young people.

This paper outlines a group of theoretical concepts and relates them to a number of areas of current malpractice by way of an attempt to explain how these occur. In doing this, it seeks not to deny the sensitivity and skill of most current practitioners, and the excellent work that abounds in the child/youth welfare fields. Rather, the paper seeks to address those areas of practice which are still of concern, and to call for a change of attitude where needed.

Type
Research Article
Information
Children Australia , Volume 27 , Issue 3 , 2002 , pp. 10 - 18
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2002

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2001) Family - Family Formation: Young adults living in the parental home, Australian Social Trends, p.1.Google Scholar
Becker, H. (1966) Outsiders: Studies in the Sociology of Deviance, New York: Free Press.Google Scholar
Berridge, D. (1994) Findings from new child care research in the UK, Paper given to the International Child and Youth Care Conference, Milwaukee.Google Scholar
Berridge, D. & Cleaver, H. (1987) Foster Home Breakdown, Oxford: Blackwell.Google Scholar
Carter, M. (1986) ‘Securing quality staff: will criminal history checks help?’, Child Care Information Exchange, pp.31–32.Google Scholar
Department of Human Services (2001a) Findings of the audit of children and young people in residential care, Melbourne: Child Protection and Juvenile Justice Branch, DHS, p.22.Google Scholar
Department of Human Services (2001b) Stronger Youth, Stronger Families: The Safety and Wellbeing Strategy, unpublished paper, Melbourne.Google Scholar
Dreikurs, R. & Grey, L. (1970) A parent's guide to child discipline, New York: Hawthorn Books Inc.Google Scholar
Fischer, F. (2002) ‘Placing sibling groups together in foster care: The Oz Child sibling group placement program’, Children Australia, 27(2), pp. 17–22.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kiraly, M. (1999) Choose with care: a recruitment guide for organisations working with children, ECPAT and MacKillop Family Services, Melbourne.Google Scholar
Lemert, E.M. (1951) Social Pathology, New York: McGraw Hill.Google Scholar
Lindsay, M. (1996) Towards a theory of ‘careism’ - discrimination against young people in care, paper given at the International Conference on Residential Child Care, Glasgow.Google Scholar
Mertin, P. (1998) ‘Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder among children in respite care: room for doubt’, Children Australia, 23 (1).Google Scholar
Mullender, A. (ed) (1999) We are family… Sibling relationships in placement and beyond, London: British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering.Google Scholar
Petr, C.G. (1992) ‘Adultcentrism in practice with children’, Families in Society, p.408.Google Scholar
Pring, R. cited in The Age, 8 June 2001, p.5.Google Scholar
Scheff, T. (1999) Being Mentally Ill: The Sociological Theory (3 rd Edition), Los Angeles: Aldine Press.Google Scholar
Scott, D. (1998) ‘Yesterday's dreams, tomorrow's realities’, Children Australia, 23 (2) p. 12.Google Scholar
Support Force for Children's Residential Care (1995) Code of Practice for the Employment of Residential Child Care Worker, UK Department of Health, London.Google Scholar
The Age, 12 March 2001, p.1.Google Scholar
The Age, 8 June 2001, p.5.Google Scholar
UK Dept of Health (1992) Choosing with Care. The Report of the Committee of Inquiry into the Selection, Development and Management of Staff in Children's Homes (The Warner Report), London: HMSO.Google Scholar
Children and Young Persons Act (1989), Victoria, Melbourne: Victorian Government Printer.Google Scholar
Victorian Child Death Review Committee (1999) Annual Report of Inquiries into Child Deaths: Protection and Care 1999, Victorian Government Publishing Service, Melbourne.Google Scholar