Protection Of Vulnerable Children Research Articles

Exploring Policy Implications of Ethics of Care and Justice in Care Work and Human Services Organizations

Much attention has recently been focused on the efficacy of cross-sector collaboration within the field of human services in response to increasing rates of child maltreatment and subsequent foster care entries nationwide. Our research includes 200 hours of participant observation, in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 65 professionals broadly involved in the protection of vulnerable children and the support of their parents, and an analysis of 45 case files. It was carried out in a rural region of Kentucky between May 2015 and July 2017. We used established principles of analytic induction to analyze our data. In this study, we explore perceptions of power, authority, inequality, and bureaucratic constraints that emerge during organizational processes of interagency collaboration among multidisciplinary human service organizations situated within the child welfare system. We argue that ethics of care and, subsequently, care work are constrained by power dynamics, primarily embedded in bureaucratically structured human service organizations as well as in policy mandates that embody ethics of justice. We conclude that the tensions between bureaucratic constraints and professional workers’ desire to care for and serve clients often disrupt and undermine organizational missions and policy goals targeting child protection. We indicate the need to examine these structural dynamics at a policy level and provide recommendations with policy implications.

A review of child sexual abuse cases presenting to a paediatric emergency department

Child sexual abuse (CSA) adversely affects a child's growth and well-being. This study aimed to describe the profile of children presenting to a tertiary paediatric emergency department(ED) with CSA. Children 0-16 years old presenting to KK Women's and Children's Hospital ED from June 2016 to August 2020 with sexual abuse were retrospectively reviewed. We performed a secondary analysis on girls and stratified them by age <13 and ≥13 years old. There were 790 patients who made 833 visits for CSA. Victims were predominantly girls (747, 94.8%) and perpetrators were predominantly men (763, 96.6%). The abuse first occurred before the age of 13 years in 315 victims (39.9%). For 468 (59.2%), more than one incident occurred before presentation. Compared to girls ≥13 years old, girls <13 years old were more frequently abused by a family member (47.7% versus 8.0%, P<0.001) and abused in their own home (55.7% vs 21.0%, P<0.001). Among all children, parental divorce and the absence of one or both biological parents in the household were prevalent, with 287/783 (36.7%) having divorced parents, and only 374/784 (47.8%) residing with both biological parents. The findings highlight common characteristics of CSA cases, and can aid the future identification and protection of vulnerable children. The fact that most children presented after more than one incident suggests the need to more closely monitor and protect potentially at-risk children.

LA REPUBLIQUE CENTRAFRICAINE

According to the general Census of Population conducted in December 2003, the Central African Republic population is 3 895 139 million. According to this Census of Population, Persons with disabilities are 50 636, that is 1,3 % of the total population; the most prevalent forms of disabilities include partial paralysis, sensory disabilities such as deaf. The Central African Republic signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), as well as its Optional Protocol on 11 October 2016. The CRDP was ratified on 11 October 2016 by the Central African Republic government. The Constitution of the Central Africa Republic contains no provision dealing directly with disabilities. The term disability does not openly appear in the Constitution. Nevertheless, the Constitution provides for the right to equality for all, including persons with disabilities. The rights to employment, education, etc, for all, are also guaranteed by the Preamble on the Constitution. The Central African Republic has numerous pieces of legislation that directly address disability. The key ones are Law N°00.007of 20 December 2000 on the promotion and the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities, which has not yet been ratified, the decree N°02.205 of 06 August 2002 that instituted application measures of Law N°00.007of 20 December 2000. The policies that directly address persons with disabilities are: (1) the national policy and its action plan; (2) the national policy of social welfare and its action plan; and (3) the national strategy on the protection of vulnerable children and the national policy on protection of children as well as its action plan including programmes affecting directly people with disabilities.Other than ordinary courts or tribunals, the Central African Republic has no official body that specifically addresses the violation of the rights of people with disabilities. However, on 28 June 2017 the government established a national Human Rights Commission which has to be autonomous, neutral and endowed with a legal entity. It also enjoys administrative, technical and financial autonomy and independence of action. While waiting for the effectivity of the Human Rights Commission, its mandate is discharged by the National High-Commission for Human Rights of Central African Republic. The Central African Republic also has a Human Rights Federation which organises actions on the promotion and protection of persons with disabilities. There are numerous organisations that represent and advocate for the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities in the Central African Republic. They include l’Association Ministère d’Evangélisation; Ensemble pour la Promotion et l’Insertion des Personnes Handicapées; and l’Association Nationale la Main des sourds Muets pour le Travail et le Développement de Centrafrique. In the Central African Republic, the Ministry of National and Higher Education; and the Ministry of Family, Social Work, and National Solidarity are involved in promoting and protecting disability rights. Persons with disabilities in this country face many problems such as the lack of doctors specialised in re-education and rehabilitation. Where access is concerned, persons with disabilities have difficulties in accessing public buildings, public transport, education, vocational training, healthcare, employment justice and other social structures, in practice, very little is done to ensure access for persons with disabilities. The Central African Republic government should strengthen and speed up the implementation of its national policies and programmes for the implementation of disability rights. It should increase the promotion of disability rights especially in the rural areas.

TCHAD

According to the results of the General Census of Population conducted in 2009 (2018 projection), the Chadian population is 15, 1 million. According to the report of the National Union of Persons with Disabilities of 2014, Persons with disabilities are 1 691 116, that is 14% of the total population; the most prevalent forms of disabilities include sensory disabilities, motor disabilities and visual disabilities. The Republic of Chad signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), as well as its Optional protocol on 26 September, 2012. The CRDP was ratified 20 June 2019 by the Chadian government. The Optional Protocol was adopted at the National Assembly 26 September, 2012. The Constitution of the Republic of Chad contains no provision dealing directly with disabilities. The term disability does not openly appear in the Constitution. Nevertheless, the Constitution provides for the right to equality for all, including persons with disabilities. The rights to employment, education, ect, for all are also guaranteed by the preamble of the Constitution. The Republic of Chad has numerous pieces of legislation that directly address disability. The key ones are the Law n°007/PR/2007, of 7 May 2007 on the protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities, which has not yet been ratified; the decree 136/PR/PM/MCFAS/94 of 16 June 1994 that instituted the National Day of Persons with Disability celebrated on 7 February every year. The policies that directly address persons with disabilities are: (1) the national policy and its action plan; (2) the national policy of social welfare and its action plan; and (3) the national strategy on the protection of vulnerable children and the national policy on protection of children as well as its action plan including programmes affecting directly people with disabilities. Other than ordinary courts or tribunals, the Chad Republic has no official body that specifically addresses the violation of the rights of people with disabilities. The Republic of Chad has had a National Human Rights Commission since 9 September 1994. It is autonomous, neutral and endowed with a legal entity. It enjoys administrative, technical and financial autonomy and independence of action. The Republic of Chad also has a Human Rights Federation which organises actions on the promotion and protection of persons with disabilities. There are numerous organisations that represent and advocate for the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities in the Republic of Chad, represented by Maison Notre Dame de Paix de Moundou Association, the Kabalaye Equipment and Rehabilitation Centre of N’djamena, and Handicap Santé which is an NGO. In the Republic of Chad, the Ministry of National Education and Higher Education; the Ministry of Social Work, National Solidarity and the Family; the Ministry of Human Rights and the Promotion of Freedoms; the Ministry of Women, Early Childhood Protection and National Solidarity are ministers that are involved in promoting and protecting disability rights. Persons with disabilities in the Republic of Chad face many problems such as the lack of doctors specialised in re-education and rehabilitation. Where access is concerned, persons with disabilities have difficulties to access to public buildings, public transport, education, vocational training, health care, employment justice and other social structures; in practice, very little is done to ensure access for persons with disabilities. The Chadian Government shall strengthen and speed up the implementation of its national policies and programmes for the implementation of disability rights.

Child safety, protection, and safeguarding in the time of COVID-19 in Great Britain: Proposing a conceptual framework

BackgroundGreat Britain has the highest coronavirus death rate in Europe. While the pandemic clearly poses a risk to the lives and wellbeing of vulnerable groups, necessary public health measures taken to delay or limit the spread of the virus have led to distinctive challenges for prevention, family support, court processes, placement and alternative care. The pandemic has also come about at a time when statutory changes to partnerships have led to a reduction in the importance of educational professional representation in the new formulation in England and Wales. ObjectivesIn this discussion paper, we propose a novel and pragmatic conceptual framework during this challenging time. ParticipantsWe consulted with 8 education professionals and 4 field-based student social workers. SettingBodies responsible for safeguarding have been working quickly to develop new approaches to fulfilling their responsibilities, for example through online home visits and case conferences. However, some communities have been highlighted as experiencing particular challenges because of the pandemic and its impacts. Protection of vulnerable children is increasingly dependent on individualised - and often pathologising - practice with a lack of emphasis on the importance of the social. Holistic consideration of the child is side-lined. ResultsOur framework comprises two phases: pandemic and aspirational. ConclusionThe framework illuminates the importance of interconnected sectors and multi-agency working, the need for resilient and adaptable support systems, and the need to promote the importance of children’s rights and voices to be heard above the noise of the pandemic.

The impact of para-professional social workers and community health care workers in Côte d'Ivoire: Contributions to the protection and social support of vulnerable children in a resource poor country

BackgroundResearch indicates a disproportionate impact of HIV and AIDS in sub-Saharan African countries, leading to many vulnerable families and children. Many of these communities have limited resources to support these vulnerable families, especially orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). Study aims and objectiveThis study set out to investigate how para-professional social workers and community health workers (PSWCHW) impact the provision of services and the psychosocial wellbeing and protection of vulnerable children in the community. MethodsThis quasi-experimental research study used data from an independent Save the Children program evaluation study in Côte d'Ivoire. We compared the health and psychosocial wellbeing of identified vulnerable children supported by para-professionals (n=334) and children not receiving para-professional support (n=213). FindingsSupport services and activities provided by PSWCHW included encouraging the children to be part of psychosocial support groups. Many of the children reported legal issues that ranged from getting a birth certificate issued to fighting or quarrelling with adults, disputes, public insults, beatings, and refusing to go to school. We found that the engagement of PSWCHW helped three out of four children go to school (compared to only one in four of the children without PSWCHW). PSWCHW also helped the children improve access to health care services. ConclusionsCommunities in sub-Saharan Africa should continue to consider the integrated utilization of para-professional social workers and community health care workers to support and improve psychosocial wellbeing of orphaned and vulnerable children which, in turn, enhances child protection services and access to healthcare.

Gogo Care and Protection of Vulnerable Children in Rural Malawi: Changing Responsibilities, Capacity to Provide, and Implications for well-being in the Era of HIV and AIDS

The role of older women in the care and protection of vulnerable children in sub-Saharan Africa may be changing given increasing rates of orphanhood due to AIDS. Concern regarding their capacity to provide for children and implications for their health and well-being dominate the literature. However, studies have not yet examined the situation of older caregivers in comparison to their younger counterparts over time. In this study, panel data on 1,219 caregivers in rural Malawi between 2007 and 2009 is complemented by in-depth interview (N=62) and group discussion (N=4) data. Caregiver responsibilities, capacity to care for children, and implications for well-being are examined. Chi-square tests examine differences in these measures between older foster caregivers and younger foster caregivers, parents of orphans, and parents of non-orphans. Older women, in comparison with younger counterparts, are more stable as primary caregivers for orphans. Care by older women is particularly valued when younger family stability is threatened by burdens of orphan care. Qualitative data reveal many challenges that older caregivers face, most notably provision of food. However, survey data suggest that the capacity to provide food, schooling and other basic needs is similar among older and younger caregivers. Self-reported health status is generally poorer among older caregivers, however levels of emotional distress and social capital are similar among older and younger caregivers. Providing care for children in old age appears to entail a number of benefits. Older women committed to providing care and protection for children are important assets, particularly in the context of threats to child well-being due to HIV and AIDS. Bolstering older caregivers with material and social support to help sustain their key roles in fostering is a promising avenue for maintaining extended family responses to HIV and AIDS.

From Burial Societies to Mutual Aid Organizations: The Role of Idirs—Traditional Burial Societies in Ethiopia—In Ensuring Community-Level Care and Protection of Vulnerable Children

From 2004 through 2009, Family Health International engaged 270 Idirs—traditional burial societies—in Ethiopia's fight against HIV and AIDS, which required the Idirs to change from only supporting death and mourning ceremonies to also supporting the living via mutual aid. Results show that more than 126,000 children received services and that these Idirs played a catalytic role in changing local attitudes away from discrimination and stigmatization and toward direct support for orphans, other vulnerable children, and people living with or affected by HIV infection. The achievements further demonstrate that, when capacitated, indigenous community-level organizations can become major partners in achieving lasting, transformational development at the grassroots level.

Perceptions about Traditional Culture in the Solomon Islands and their Potential for Assisting in The Protection of Vulnerable Children

Perceptions about Traditional Culture in the Solomon Islands and their Potential for Assisting in The Protection of Vulnerable Children

Getting in line: Coordinating responses for children affected by HIV and AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa

Only one in every eight households containing orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in African countries received any support from an external source (UNICEF, 2008). This is a reflection of how governments, both rich and poor, have ignored obligations ratified in conventions to ensure the social protection of vulnerable children (United Nations, 1989). Consequently, a disproportionate proportion of the financial burden of care of vulnerable children is borne by affected families and communities. It is deplorable that vulnerable children are forced to rely on the charity of income poor relatives and community members (Wilkinson-Maposa et al., 2005; Foster, 2005b). This situation is likely to continue until governments adequately assume their responsibilities. In countries such as Botswana, governments have responded to the crisis of children and AIDS and consequently most households containing vulnerable children now receive external support (UNAIDS et al., 2006). The movement to establish national social protection schemes for vulnerable households is gaining momentum. If cash transfers become established nationally, they may alleviate suffering on a wide scale (JLICA, 2009). In that case, community groups and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are currently responsible for implementing responses to support children affected by HIV and AIDS will still be needed to administer psychosocial and other services that are complementary to those provided by these schemes. It is vital that governments develop a central role in coordinating civil society responses and ensure that resources for vulnerable children are used more effectively. But most African governments have limited capacity to coordinate responses and have only recently engaged in this area that involves a few well-resourced international organisations, many local NGOs and innumerable community initiatives. This article reviews the responses of different sectors responding to the impacts of HIV/AIDS on children, and discusses how these may be better funded, coordinated and monitored, utilizing the findings from a study of civil society OVC initiatives and evolving national responses (Foster, 2008).