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The Contemporary U.S. Child Welfare System(s): Overview and Key Challenges

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  • Lawrence M. Berger
  • Kristen S. Slack

Abstract

This volume of The ANNALS aims to increase awareness among scholars, policy-makers, and practitioners of the size, scope, and functions of child welfare services in the United States. We aim to promote a wider understanding of the broad impacts of child welfare policies and point to ways in which child welfare services can be better incorporated into cross-cutting social policy debates. The articles in this volume offer concrete recommendations for policies and practices that can reduce child maltreatment, and for systemic approaches—both within the purview of child welfare services and across the broader community and social policy landscape—that can better identify and respond to the needs of children and families in which maltreatment has already occurred or where there is a risk of abuse and neglect. This introduction sets a foundation for understanding the contents of the volume: we provide an overview of child welfare services in the United States and highlight current challenges that the U.S. child welfare systems face.

Suggested Citation

  • Lawrence M. Berger & Kristen S. Slack, 2020. "The Contemporary U.S. Child Welfare System(s): Overview and Key Challenges," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 692(1), pages 7-25, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:anname:v:692:y:2020:i:1:p:7-25
    DOI: 10.1177/0002716220969362
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lawrence M. Berger & Sarah A. Font & Kristen S. Slack & Jane Waldfogel, 2017. "Income and child maltreatment in unmarried families: evidence from the earned income tax credit," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 15(4), pages 1345-1372, December.
    2. Kim, H. & Wildeman, C. & Jonson-Reid, M. & Drake, B., 2017. "Lifetime prevalence of investigating child maltreatment among US children," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 107(2), pages 274-280.
    3. Rosana E Norman & Munkhtsetseg Byambaa & Rumna De & Alexander Butchart & James Scott & Theo Vos, 2012. "The Long-Term Health Consequences of Child Physical Abuse, Emotional Abuse, and Neglect: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(11), pages 1-31, November.
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    1. Fred Wulczyn, 2020. "Foster Care in a Life Course Perspective," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 692(1), pages 227-252, November.
    2. Megan Feely & Kerri M. Raissian & William Schneider & Lindsey Rose Bullinger, 2020. "The Social Welfare Policy Landscape and Child Protective Services: Opportunities for and Barriers to Creating Systems Synergy," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 692(1), pages 140-161, November.

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