Challenge of Child Welfare

'I think this book, in assembling the views of a distinguishedgroup of professionals, can have a profound effect on child welfaretheory and practice. These practitioners, critics and academics havemuch to say. I for one am grateful that their views are nowconveniently available to all of us in this book.' -- from theforeword by Thomas R. Berger, Chairman, the British Columbia RoyalCommission on Family and Children's Law

The first Canadian text on child welfare, this work examines anumber of issues which represent the state of the art of child welfarein Canada. Among the contributors are practitioners as well asacademics from the fields of social work, child care, law andmedicine.

Important government studies and reports in the 1970's did muchto define existing problems in child welfare and to provide directionsfor their solutions. The developments and research reported in thisbook add to their findings.

Several main themes emerge in the book -- one being the lack ofstandardization of child welfare policy and practice in Canada sinceeach province has its own regulations and policies. Other concernscommon to many of the authors are the dismantling of social serviceprogrammes as a result of the current recession and the need forgreater cooperation with the native Indian leadership in regard to theprovision of child welfare services to the Indian community.

Another important theme touched on by several authors concernschildren in the care of welfare agencies. They discuss how adequate therange and quality of services are and how the effect of these servicescan be measured. The final theme centers on prevention and the earlyidentification of families whose children may be at risk withoutcertain support services.

The point of view which transcends all the contributions supports aninstitutional approach, where a range of services is available tofamilies to choose from, as opposed to the residual approach whichregards government services as the last resort. While it is the latterview that is prevalent in Canda today, the authors argue that thisrepresents a penny wise but pound foolish approach not only to childwelfare but also to the broader field of social welfare.