Reforming Child Welfare Regulations - 2200 Words

Reforming Child Welfare Regulations (Research Paper Sample) Content: Reforming Child Welfare Regulations LaKesha Oden-Claud Professor Robin Evans ENG 215- Research and Writing November 21, 2013 Reforming Child Welfare Regulations The purpose of this paper is to investigate the deficiencies in the child welfare regulations to determine the appropriate action of reform. This topic was chosen because of its paramount importance to the well-being of all children. As it stands, the system is highly incapacitated to deliver the recommended services to the various stakeholders namely; the foster families, child welfare agencies and social workers. It lacks proper funding and structure to effectively serve its purpose. According to Bass, (2004), the welfare system has become very unpopular in many States in the U.S...Governors think that the federal law is overly prescriptive and are willing to reduce their federal budgets in exchange for more flexibility. Public opinion indicators suggest that the public want welfare reforme d in ways that will not punish children. The system is deemed to be demoralizing and demeaning to majority of the welfare recipients and would prefer to work instead. Furthermore, experts believe that welfare has not done enough to discourage the growth of poverty among children since most states have insufficient welfare benefits to lift families above poverty line. Most Americans feel the whole system should be totally overhauled and the reforms should be deep and not superficial. In the past, new innovations were implemented as additions to the existing system instead of changing the whole system. On this regard, the child welfare system should be changed from a crisis-driven system to a total change and renewal. To achieve systemic change, there are several key elements that should be observed: improvement of the federal finance structure, improved ways for better service coordination and integration of systems, enhancing accountability measures and rethinking the roles of t he courts and caseworkers; this will transform the way a child and families experience foster care. According to developmental psychologists and researchers, child welfare should be high quality; otherwise, it can be harmful to children (Karageorge the one-size-fits all mindset of the welfare system should be abolished (Blau, 2006). The child welfare system should be transformed to one that focuses on flexibility and individual treatment for families and children from one that focuses on process, procedure and compliance. Goals should be re-imagined to focus on broadening the vision of the child welfare system. The new vision should be that of improving the life experience...