Abstract
This chapter acknowledges the successes in child protection as well as the weaknesses and limitations that need to be addressed through the development of public health approaches. The child protection intervention framework is problematized as not delivering well enough the aims it has espoused. Global perspectives and historical developments are explored, including the similarities and differences found among approaches around the globe. We explore the difficulties experienced by contemporary systems such as: institutional and system processes and responses; dealing with poverty and neglect; the stigma associated with statutory interventions; the negative impacts of child abuse and neglect upon children, families and communities; the increasing system costs; the changing social constructions of childhood and maltreatment; the challenges of evaluating systemic outcomes and efficacy; and reform processes in child protection. This chapter challenges the philosophical underpinnings of child protection approaches and argues for reform of them through public health approaches that promote earlier intervention and prevention strategies.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
AIHW. (2017). Child protection Australia 2015–16. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Retrieved from https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/child-protection/child-protection-australia-2015-16/report-editions
Australian Government Productivity Commission. (2017). Report on Government Services 2017. Canberra: Author. Retrieved from http://www.pc.gov.au/research/ongoing/report-on-government-services/2017
Bentley, H., O’Hagan, O., Brown, A., Vasco, N., Lynch, C., Peppiate, J., Webber, M., Ball, R., Miller, P., Byrne, A., Hafizi, M., & Letendrie, F. (2017). How safe are our children? The most comprehensive overview of child protection in the UK 2017. London: National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Retrieved from: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/research-reports/how-safe-children-2017-report.pdf
Bilson, A., & Martin, K. (2017). Referrals and child protection in England: One in five children referred to Children’s Services and one in nineteen investigated before the age of five. The British Journal of Social Work, 47(3), 793–811. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcw054.
Bilson, A., Cant, R., Harries, M., & Thorpe, D. (2015). A longitudinal study of children reported to the child protection department in western Australia. British Journal of Social Work, 45(3), 771–791.
Bilson, A., Cant, R., Harries, M., & Thorpe, D. (2017). Accounting for the increase of children in care in Western Australia: What can a client information system tell us? Child Abuse and Neglect, 72, 291–300.
Bromfield, L. M., & Higgins, D. J. (2005). Chronic and isolated maltreatment in a child protection sample. Family Matters, 70, 38–45. Retrieved from https://aifs.gov.au/publications/family-matters/issue-70/chronic-and-isolated-maltreatment-child-protection-sample
Bromfield, L. M. & Miller, R. (2012). Cumulative harm: Best interests case practice model specialist practice resource. Melbourne: Victorian Government Department of Human Services in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Family Studies. Retrieved from http://www.cpmanual.vic.gov.au/our-approach/best-interests-case-practice-model/cumulative-harm
Bromfield, L. M., Gillingham, P., & Higgins, D. J. (2007). Cumulative harm and chronic child maltreatment. Developing Practice: The Child, Youth and Family Work Journal, 19, 34–42.
Bromfield, L., Arney, F., & Higgins, D. (2014). Contemporary issues in child protection intake, referral and family support. In A. Hayes, & D. Higgins (Eds.), Families, policy and the law: Selected essays on contemporary issues for Australia (pp. 121–129). Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies. Retrieved from https://aifs.gov.au/publications/families-policy-and-law/13-contemporary-issues-child-protection-intake-referral-and
Cameron, G., & Freymond, N. (2006). Understanding international comparisons of child protection, family service and community caring systems of child and family welfare. In N. Freymond & G. Cameron (Eds.), Towards positive systems of child and family welfare: International comparisons of child protection, family service, and community caring systems (pp. 3–27). Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
Campbell, K. A., Cook, L. J., LaFleur, B. J., & Keenan, H. T. (2010). Household, family, and child risk factors after an investigation for suspected child maltreatment: A missed opportunity for prevention. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 164(10), 943–949. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpediatrics.2010.166.
Cummins, P., Scott, D., & Scales, B. (2012). Report of the protecting Victoria’s vulnerable children inquiry. Melbourne: Department of Premier and Cabinet.
NSW Department of Community Services. (2007). Annual Report 2006/07. Ashfield, NSW: Author. Available at: http://www.community.nsw.gov.au/DOCSwr/_assets/annual_report07/documents/annual_report06_07.pdf.
Finkelhor, D., Shattuck, A., Turner, H., & Hamby, S. (2014). Trends in children’s exposure to violence, 2003–2011. JAMA Pediatrics, 168(6), 540–546. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.5296.
Fluke, J. D., Shusterman, G. R., Hollinshead, D. M., & Yuan, Y. T. (2008). Longitudinal analysis of repeated child abuse reporting and victimization: Multistate analysis of associated factors. Child Maltreatment, 13(1), 76–88. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077559507311517.
Herrenkohl, T. I., Higgins, D. J., Merrick, M. T., & Leeb, R. T. (2015). Positioning a public health framework at the intersection of child maltreatment and intimate partner violence. Child Abuse & Neglect [Directions], 48, 22–28.. Retrieved from. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2015.04.013.
Herrenkohl, T. I., Leeb, R. L., & Higgins, D. (2016). The public health model of child maltreatment prevention. Trauma, Violence, and Abuse, 17(4), 363–336.
Higgins, D. J. (2011). Protecting children: Evolving systems. Family Matters, 89, 5–10. Retrieved from http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/pubs/fm2011/fm89/index.html.
Higgins, D. J. (2015). A public health approach to enhancing safe and supportive family environments for children. Family Matters, 96, 39–52. Retrieved fromhttps://aifs.gov.au/publications/family-matters/issue-96/public-health-approach-enhancing-safe-and-supportive-family-environments-children.
Higgins, D., & Katz, I. (2008). Enhancing service systems for protecting children: Promoting child wellbeing and child protection reform in Australia. Family Matters, 80, 43–50. Available at: https://aifs.gov.au/publications/familymatters/issue-80/enhancing-service-systems-protecting-children.
Horsfall, B., Bromfield, L., & McDonald, M. (2010). Are social marketing campaigns effective in preventing child abuse and neglect? (NCPC Issues No. 32). Melbourne: National Child Protection Clearinghouse, Australian Institute of Family Studies. Retrieved from https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/publications/are-social-marketing-campaigns-effective-preventing-child
Krugman, R. D. (2017). The more we learn, the less we know: A brief history of the field of child abuse and neglect. In J. B. Klika & J. R. Conte (Eds.), The APSAC handbook on child maltreatment (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Lonne, B. (2015). Mandatory reporting and the difficulties in identifying and responding to risk of severe neglect: A response requiring a rethink. In B. Mathews & D. Bross (Eds.), Mandatory reporting laws and the identification of severe child abuse and neglect (pp. 245–273). New York: Springer.
Lonne, B., & Parton, N. (2014). Portrayals of child abuse scandals in the media in Australia and England: Impacts on practice, policy and systems. Child Abuse & Neglect, 38, 822–836. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2014.04.020.
Lonne, B., Parton, N., Thomson, J., & Harries, M. (2009). Reforming child protection. London: Routledge.
Melton, G. B. (2005). Mandated reporting: a policy without reason. Child Abuse & Neglect, 29(1), 9–18.
Munro, E., (2011). Munro review of child protection: Final report – A child-centred system. UK Department for Education. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/munro-review-of-child-protection-final-report-a-child-centred-system
Price-Robertson, R., Higgins, D., & Vassallo, S. (2013). Multi-type maltreatment and polyvictimisation: A comparison of two research frameworks. Family Matters, 93, 84–98. Retrieved from www.aifs.gov.au/institute/pubs/fm2013/fm93/fm93h.html.
Price-Robertson, R., Bromfield, L., & Lamont, A. (2014). International approaches to child protection: What can Australia learn? (CFCA Paper no. 23). Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family. Studies.. Retrieved from https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/publications/international-approaches-child-protection.
Scott, D. (2015). Children in Australia: Harms and hopes. Family Matters, 96, 14–22. Retrieved from https://aifs.gov.au/publications/family-matters/issue-96/children-australia.
Scott, D. A., Lonne, B., & Higgins, D. (2016a). Public health models for preventing child maltreatment: Applications from the field of injury prevention. Trauma Violence & Abuse [Special Edition on Public Health Approaches to Child Maltreatment Prevention], 17(4), 408–419. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838016658877.
Scott, D., Rushton, S., Fong, M., & Higgins, D. (2016b). Cradle to Kinder: Evaluation of early implementation findings from the Victorian Cradle to Kinder Program 2013–15. A report to the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies. Summary report available [click on “Related Resources”]: Retrieved from http://providers.dhhs.vic.gov.au/family-and-parenting-support
Sedlak, A. J., Mettenburg, J., Basena, M., Petta, I., McPherson, K., Greene, A., & Li, S. (2010). Fourth national incidence study of child abuse and neglect (NIS–4): Report to congress, executive summary. Washington, DC: US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. Retrieved from https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/opre/nis4_report_exec_summ_pdf_jan2010.pdf
SPERU (Social Policy Evaluation and Research Unit). (2016). Modernising Child Protection in New Zealand: Learning from system reforms in other jurisdictions. Wellington: SPERU.
Tomison, A. (2001). A history of child protection: Back to the future? Family Matters, 60, 47–57. Retrieved from https://aifs.gov.au/publications/family-matters/issue-60/history-child-protection.
US Department of Health and Human Services (US DHHS). (2009). Child maltreatment 2007. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, Administration of Children, Youth and Families.
US Department of Health and Human Services (US DHHS). (2017). Child maltreatment 2015. Washington, DC: US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. Retrieved from http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/research-data-technology/statistics-research/child-maltreatment.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Higgins, D., Lonne, B., Herrenkohl, T.I., Scott, D. (2019). The Successes and Limitations of Contemporary Approaches to Child Protection. In: Lonne, B., Scott, D., Higgins, D., Herrenkohl, T.I. (eds) Re-Visioning Public Health Approaches for Protecting Children. Child Maltreatment, vol 9. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05858-6_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05858-6_1
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-05857-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-05858-6
eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)