What if Child Maltreatment Were Childhood Leukemia?: Lessons from the Halls of the Hospital

Abstract

This article examines lessons that can be applied to prevention, research, training, and clinical treatment in child welfare from analogous experiences in combatting childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Since the 1960s, childhood cancer researchers have been able to reach a 98% remission rate and 90% 5-yr survival rate with limited research, training, and treatment dollars. In contrast, child abuse fatalities and maltreatment reports have continued to increase. Although childhood leukemia is not readily associated with child welfare and child maltreatment, there are strategies, protocols, and lessons from the cancer arena that could disrupt the status quo of how we address child welfare. Use of childhood cancer research and treatment as a model could result in development of a child welfare system that is preventive in nature and better equipped to treat the multitude of family and community issues that contribute to maltreatment.