Child Protection Reflections

Some reflections on child protection . . .

The requirement that children be protected from abuse, neglect and interpersonal trauma is conceptually simple and beyond reproach.

Child protection in practice is not-so-simple.

Child protection in practice requires the community to be informed about the ill-effects of child maltreatment on the development and psychological wellbeing of maltreated children. Child protection in practice requires the community to stand against the abuse and neglect of children.

Strong and effective child protection in practice requires a statutory workforce that is well-trained and well-supported. Child protection workers require the knowledge and the tools to properly assess and address matters referred to them on an individual, case-by-case basis. There should be no universal adherence to dogma, such as “family preservation”, “permanency planning” or “solution-based-casework”. These all detract from individualised, informed and thoughtful decision-making.

Strong and effective child protection in practice requires a strong and informed leadership that supports their professional workforce, to the benefit of children who require protection and assistance with recovery from trauma.

Strong and effective child protection in practice requires well-trained and well-supported foster parents. Foster parents are vital to all endeavours to protect children.

Strong and effective child protection in practice requires a professional workforce that is appropriately trained and equipped with strategies to help children recover from abuse and neglect.

Strong and effective child protection in practice requires that we care more about the future of our community than our own contemporary self-interest and strive assiduously for a more sensitive and caring society for our children and grandchildren.

About colbypearce

I am a practising Clinical Psychologist with twenty-seven years’ experience working with children and young people recovering from abuse and neglect. I am also an author and educator in trauma-informed, therapeutic caregiving. My programs are implemented in Australia and Ireland, and I am well-known for my practical and accessible guidance for caregivers and professionals alike.
This entry was posted in AAA Caregiving, Adoption, Attachment, Fostering, Resilience, Trauma and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

4 Responses to Child Protection Reflections

  1. Child protection imho begins with adults realising children sometimes need to be protected from their own parents. Many many MANY people are astoundingly uncomfortable with that idea. Child protection is about listening to the childs plea to be active, to listen, to believe, to confront your own discomfort about such stories. Instead it’s so much easier to listen to the abusers/neglectors plea to remain passive, to just accept the status quo. In a way child protection is about owning up about many years of passive acceptance, of looking away. Its about facing our own demons as well as the childs ones. As long as people by and large are not emotionally mature enough to be that much of a bigger person I can’t see much change happening.

    sincere regards

    unprotected child

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