America’s approach to child welfare is at a crossroads. The problems — hundreds of thousands of children cycling through foster care, families straining under an uncertain and challenging economy, and government systems unable to appropriately manage needs — are plain to see.
Fortunately, so is the solution. Government and communities both have a role to play. And we need to be clear about what each entails. Child protection agencies should be focused squarely on protecting children from abuse and neglect. And communities — including nonprofits, schools, faith groups, health providers, neighbors and families themselves — must be empowered to prevent crises before they occur and promote well-being more broadly.
Protecting children and supporting families are not competing goals. They are complementary. And they’re both achievable.
Find out how Tiffany Perrin recommends moving beyond binary in child welfare, at Imprint News.
