The Role of Public Policy in
Protecting Children from
Violence
Presentation Overview
• Joint Council
– Tom DiFilipo – Public Policy
– Jody Sciortino – Clinical Interventions
• Morris & McDaniel
– David Morris – Clinical Preventions
A Human Rights Based Approach
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights
– Family is “the natural and fundamental unit of
society”
– As such the family, including children, must be
protected
• United Nations Programme for the
International year of the Family
– “the family provides the natural framework
for…the growth and development of its
members, particularly infants and children”
A Human Rights Based Approach
• United Nations Convention on the rights of
the Child
• Provides each child with:
– The right to survival,
– The right to develop to the fullest,
– The right to protection from harmful
influences, abuse and exploitation,
– and the right to participate fully in family,
cultural and social life.
A Human Rights Based Approach
• Hague Convention on Protection of
Children and Co-Operation in Respect of
Intercountry Adoption
– “Recognizing that the child, for the full and
harmonious development of his or her
personality, should grow up in a family
environment, in an atmosphere of happiness,
love and understanding.”
Governments Role
The International Community has agreed
that governments have a responsibility to
set public policies which protect the family
and all of its members, including infants
and children.
The Family’s Role
The World Community agrees;
• The family has the greatest potential to protect children and
provide for their physical and emotional safety.
• The privacy and autonomy of the family are valued in all
societies and is guaranteed in international human rights instruments.
• Preventing or responding to violence against children is challenging in
the context of the ‘private’ family.
• However,
– children’s rights to life, survival and safety do not stop at the
door of the family home, nor do States’ obligations to ensure these
rights for children.
Protection Against Institutionalization
• Family Preservation
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Family Reunification
Kinship Care
Foster Care
Adoption
– Domestic
– International
• Group Homes
• Independent Living
Deinstitutionalization
vs.
Family Life
• Global Trend Towards Deinstitutionalization
– Columbia, new child’s rights law, 2007
– China, foster care replacing ICA
– Ukraine, foster care
– Africa, preventing institutions as an option
– United States, foster care & adoption
– India, street children
Fixing One Problem
Causing Another
• United States – deinstitutionalization
– Homelessness (street children)
– Foster Care system overwhelmed
• Increase in violence against children
• Increase in incarceration rates
Fixing One Problem
Causing Another
• Colombia
• child rights law & deinstitutionalization
– Up to 2 years to permit an adoption
– Lack of funding
– Decrease in services
Fixing One Problem
Causing Another
• Russia
• deinstitutionalization
– Increase in violence
The Goal of Public Policy
• Provide each child with:
– The right to survival,
– The right to develop to the fullest,
– The right to protection from harmful
influences, abuse and exploitation,
– and the right to participate fully in family,
cultural and social life.
Create a safe, permanent and loving
family for each child
Safety, Permanency & Love
• Adoption vs. Foster Care
– Safe but not permanent
– Motivation of Foster Family
• Domestic Adoption vs. International Adoption
– Fewer protections for domestic
– More protections for international
The Colombian Model
• All Placements
– Parents assessed by licensed social worker
– Parents must visit prior to placement
– Pre-adoption education requirements
– Post Placement requirements
– Equal status requirements
The United States Model
• Domestic Adoption
– Parents assessed by licensed social worker,
physicians, police
• Emotional, physician, financial, criminal
– Parents must visit prior to placement
– Post Placement requirements
– Equal status requirements
• Insurance, education, rights, inheritance
• International Adoption
– None
The Russian Model
• International Adoption
– Parents assessed by licensed social worker,
physicians, police and Federal Government
• Emotional, physician, financial, criminal
– Parents must visit prior to placement
– Pre-adoption education requirements
– Post Placement requirements
– Equal status requirements
• Insurance, education, rights, inheritance
The Russian Model
• International Adoption
– 12 deaths in 52,511 adoptions
– .02 %
– 1 in every 4,357 adoptions
A Common Thread
The Home Study
– Training of prospective adoptive parents
– Interview of prospective adoptive parents
– Home Visit
– Health Statements
– Income Statements
– Background Checks
– Autobiographical Statement
– References
Parent Training
• Training of prospective adoptive parents
– Parenting a child with a history of physical and/or
sexual abuse
– Parenting a traumatized child
– Parenting a child with Developmental Delays
– Parenting the older child
– Search & Reunion Issues of the adopted child
– Integration into the extended family
• Siblings
• Relatives
– Nontraditional Families
The Interview
• Interview
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Family Background
Education
Employment
Relationships
Daily Life
Parenting
Neighborhood
Religion
Readiness for Adoption
The Assessment
• A report integrating all elements of the Home
Study into a summary statement and the social
worker's recommendation.
– If not approved, the report may include recommended
interventions.
– Some prospective adoptive parents may receive a
conditional approval.
– If approved for adoption, the report includes the age
range and number of children for which the family is
approved.
Role of Public Policy
Summary Statement
Equal Protections
• Regardless of the placement (birth, kinship, foster, adoption)
– A human rights approach
– Focus on creating a safe, permanent & loving family
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Trained & educated professionals
Assessment of the child
Assessment of the child’s best interest
Assessment of the kinship, foster or adoptive family
Education of kinship, foster or adoptive family
Post Placement support and supervision
If you want to go fast, go alone
If you want to go far, travel together
African Proverb