NCJ Number
113696
Journal
Protecting Children Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: (Summer 1988) Pages: 3-9
Date Published
1988
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article summarizes principles for structuring the work of protecting children as promulgated by three major organizations concerned with the issue and highlights features of the Federal 1988 Child Abuse Prevention, Adoption, and Family Services Act.
Abstract
The summaries encompass Standards for Services to Abused and Neglected Children and Their Families, sponsored by the Child Welfare League of America; child abuse and neglect reporting and investigation policy guidelines for decisionmaking, sponsored by the American Enterprise Institute, the American Bar Association, and the American Public Welfare Association; and guidelines for a model system of protective services for abused and neglected children and their families, sponsored by the National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators. Among the commonalities outlined from the consensus documents is the principle that child protective services should be a specialized child welfare service and not the only way to help children and families. The organizations favor national guidelines or standards rather than individual community standards and emphasize a communitywide response to child abuse and neglect. Consensus also occurred on the components of the role of child protective services in responding to child abuse and neglect.