Protecting Children: Theoretical and Practical Aspects

Focusing on children who are subject to welfare intervention, Protecting Children addresses the challenges and issues of the child welfare system and provides foundational knowledge on the theoretical and practical aspects of the field. This edited collection begins with a review of key concepts, including child development, attachment, and resilience theories; social policies; family law; and ethics. Highlighting the translation of theory into practice, the contributors discuss current services and the search for best practice internationally, as well as explore Indigenous child welfare and offer conclusions and recommendations to promote positive outcomes for children and families involved in the system.

Scholars, researchers, and practitioners from across the globe provide insight on a wide range of timely issues, such as the risk of reductionism, limits to predictability, pragmatic issues, as well as the disproportional presence in the care system of minority groups, including Indigenous children, children of new immigrants and refugees, children in LGBTQ communities, and children of the poor. This foundational volume is an important resource for courses in social work and child welfare.

FEATURES:

• Includes contributions from researchers, practitioners, and scholars from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States
• Highlights Indigenous authors and personal stories of service users, and includes figures and tables throughout the text, as well as section introductions and conclusions to situate main theories and concepts for students

With contributions by leading scholars from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and the United Kingdom, Protecting Children provides a comprehensive review of the Canadian child welfare system and comparative international perspectives on current and best practices. Featuring service user voices in addition to research studies and literature reviews, the text overviews theoretical and ethical frameworks; highlights the historical and contemporary experiences of Indigenous children, youth, and their families in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand; and examines current global services and their outcomes. The contributors also provide concrete recommendations and alternative models, maintaining a sense of hope for the future of all those involved in child welfare. Linking theory, practice, and policy, this foundational collection is a must-read for students and practitioners of child welfare and social work.