Disability and Discrimination in Statutory Child Protection Proceedings

Families headed by parents with intellectual disability [1] are among the most vulnerable in the community. Poverty, social isolation and the lack of adequate support services all threaten their well-being. People with intellectual disability who are parents must also contend with out-of-the-ordinary treatment in statutory child protection proceedings. Legal scholars writing mainly in the North American context cite cases in which the children of these parents have been removed despite lack of evidence of abuse or neglect, or when evidence was refuted or, indeed, even when the parent was shown to be providing adequate care. In cases of substantiated abuse and/or neglect, support has not been given to the parent or parents before their children were removed. In this paper, we describe these discriminatory actions and discuss the political, social and institutional conditions that have lead to such extreme consequences for people with intellectual disability who also happen to be parents.     

Child Protection and Self‐Regulation in the Internet Industry: The UK Experience

In the United Kingdom (UK), the number of convictions for offences related to child abuse images fell back following the police investigation dubbed ‘Operation Ore’, but have still continued at levels unimaginable only 10 years ago. However, while government and the internet industry deserve credit for the steps they have taken to reduce the traffic in child abuse images online in the UK, the fact that a number of Internet Service Providers appear to be reluctant to act to block access to it calls into question the effectiveness of the self‐regulatory principle: the idea which has been central to the UK’s overall approach to internet policy since 1996.     

Child Protection and Child Custody

Abstract

A child'S need for safety should trump any and all other considerations in family law. Child-service agencies cannot be expected to both promote reunification and child protection simultaneously. The author asserts that legislatures need to change the laws such that it is clear to the court that children come first and that safety is paramount. Although visitation between child and parent is considered to be a fundamental right, this right can and should be abrogated when initial evidence shows that such contact poses a risk of danger to the emotional or physical health and safety of the child. A new and specially trained court dealing only with issues of family violence and abuse may need to be considered.     

Working Relationally with Youth in Child Protection Institutions: A Milieu‐Therapy Perspective

Children and youth who have shown serious difficulties or if it is surmised that parents over time will not be able to care for the child or youth, could be placed in a child protection institution. The therapeutic work in such institutions is often described as milieu therapy. There has been little focus on the milieu therapist's relational work in child protection institutions. The research question for this study was: What factors are described by milieu therapists as significant for relational work with youth placed in institutions? To answer this question, we collected data from qualitative semi‐structured interviews with four milieu therapists working in child protection institutions. Interpretative phenomenological analysis helped us identify three overarching categories: (1) structural and personal factors as a basis for relational work; (2) various forms of communication in relational work; and (3) relational work with a starting point in everyday events.     

Child Protection in a Low‐Resource Setting: Experiences From Paediatric Professionals in Kenya

Key Practitioner Messages:

• Child protection is a significant issue in global child health.
• There is an established legal framework for the protection of children globally and in Kenya.
• This study has given an insight into the current experience of child protection amongst healthcare professionals in Kenya.
• There was limited training reported at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• It has highlighted the need and desire for formal child protection training for all professionals working with children.

     

美国的儿童保护体系及其启示

美国以国家亲权为法律基础,出台了预防和应对儿童虐待的相关法律,在联邦、州和地方政府成立了儿童保护职能部门,制定了服务于儿童与家庭的工作流程。当前我国的儿童保护工作存在着强制举报制度缺乏、监护权法律不健全、儿童长期安置渠道不畅的困境,借鉴美国经验,我国应通过健全法律法规、建立专门政府机构、建设社区儿童服务中心等措施来完善儿童保护体系。     

Re‐thinking Disability,Work and Welfare

There is a wealth of evidence that disabled people experience far higher levels of unemployment and underemployment than non‐disabled peers. Yet hitherto sociologists have paid scant attention to the structural causes of this issue. Drawing on a socio/political or social model of disability perspective this paper argues for a reconfiguration of the meaning of disability and work in order to address this problem. It is also suggested that such a strategy will make a significant contribution to the struggle for a fairer and equitable global society.     

Ethnic Diversity and Child Protection

SUMMARY: Black and minority ethnic children in need of protection receive a poor response from health and social services. Practitioners are reluctant to intervene, and when intervention does take place it reflects a eurocentric approach that fails to engage with the ethnic diversity of vulnerable children. Increasing the levels of safety far all children, black and white, suffering or likely to suffer significant harm, requires taking positive action: collecting ethnically relevant data, a commitment to an equitable distribution of resources, consulting children and parents and involving them in planning and designing services.     

Utility of Child Report: Correspondence with Parent‐Reported Child Abuse Risk

• Use multiple informants.
• Children can provide useful information.
• Comprehensive abuse risk assessment.

     

Child Protection and Radiography: Clinical and Technical Issues

The role of the radiographer in child protection has received little attention. This review considers issues which arise in this field, highlighting the implications for those responsible for the management of child protection systems, for those responsible for training, and for staff in other specialisms and professions within the hospital. The different types of imaging technique are discussed with some comment on their advantages and disadvantages. Forced immobilisation is sometimes required, and consideration is given to the issues which arise for the radiographer and abused child in this process. The article reviews the knowledge needed by radiographers of the clinical and radiological manifestations of abuse. It is noted that there are additional social and emotional issues which are discussed in a further paper. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Domestic Violence and Child Protection: Partnerships and Collaboration

Abstract

The interface between the child protection and domestic violence sectors is often problematic, in that the two sectors operate relatively independently, with little integration. However, it is widely recognised that these sectors need to work more closely to enhance both women's and children's safety. This paper explores the processes needed for the child protection and domestic violence sectors to develop collaborative partnerships that lead to the provision of higher-quality responses to both women and children. Drawing on collaboration theory, a number of barriers to the development of successful partnerships are described, and applied to initiatives that seek to develop integrated approaches between child protection and domestic violence services. It is concluded that there is much scope for the two sectors to work closely together, but that the development of integrated responses involving both child protection and domestic violence services will take a significant commitment, level of determination, and stamina from both parties.