Children in societies across the world experience various kind of violence, exploitation, abuse, and neglect that often lead to their suffering because of their general naivety and vulnerability. As such, child protection policy becomes an essential tool as it helps to protect children by defining what is needed to create a safe environment for children. This safe environment, which is dependent on the level of protection children get, is vital since it influences the well-being of children including academic performance and health. In this context, child protection policy regards the universal principles, beliefs, and values set out, and describe the steps taken to safeguard children from all hazards within the control of teachers, guardians, parents, and society at large (UNICEF, UNHCR, Save the Children and World Vision, 2013).On this background, this paper focuses to discuss child protection policy regarding its goals, benefits and services, eligibility rules, service systems of delivery, and financing. Then finally a concluding paragraph.
Goals of Child Protection Policy
The child protection policy main aims/goals include and not limited to first, educating people concerning child abuse, and promoting a child-friendly and safe culture where all people are committed to keeping the safety of children against all forms of abuse, exploitation, violence, and neglect. Second, the policy aims to create an aware and open environment in which safety and well-being concerns of a child can be quickly raised and handled through a just and fair approach, which ensures the protection of the rights of all parties involved. Third, offering guidance regarding the ways of responding to allegations and concerns of child abuse, and also providing all the support provider (stakeholders) with advice on how to work efficiently and respectfully with children. This includes ways of ensuring that there is immediate access to services that are appropriate to child abuse. In addition to the goals, the policy adheres to the local and international criminal laws of child protection that prohibit the exploitation and abuse of young children (EdmundRice Foundation, 2010).
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Benefits and Services and Eligibility Rules
The policy offers a platform for safeguarding/preventing children from abuse before it occurs, hence creates a healthy and positive environment for growth and well-being of children. Doing this will ensure the protection of children’s right, through advocating for these rights and hence the adverse effects of the violation of children’s right. Also, through the guidance and clear procedure provided by the policy help to ensure responses which are prompt to concerns of the safety or welfare of the child, and as such, enhancing recovery and reconciliation of children who have been abused sexually, emotionally, or physically (Ring, 2012). The eligibility rules within the policy for a child to be entitled to the benefits include ensuring safety, well-being, and permanency of children regardless of racial origin, culture, religious beliefs, gender, age or ethnicity, who are abused and neglected, and those children deemed to be at neglect or abuse risk. Also, all allegations or suspected cases of abuse are considered and taken seriously by the policy (World Vision, 2012).
Services Delivery Systems
The policy is committed to protecting children through; first awareness, which will raise the awareness of issues of child abuse and the risks it bears on the children. Second, prevention by minimizing the dangers or occurrence of child abuse through the awareness campaign. Third, through reporting by ensuring clear ways of taking the arising concerns regarding children safety, and also through responding by supporting and protecting the arising interests of children who are victims of abuse or at risk of the harm (The International Save the Children Alliance, 2003). To ensure that above commitments are met, the policy further requires; child neglect/abuse reporting in which abuse or neglect reports are filed with operated hotlines at local or state level. Second, through child protective services (CPS) where a report which needs further evaluation will be conducted through interviews or visit of family members by child protective services caseworkers. This will help determine whether neglect or abuse is substantiated, the continued risk of the child, and additional services required to protect the child. Additionally, the policy will achieve its commitments through the placement of out-of-home as well as permanent placement, preplacement preventive and family maintenance services. This will happen through a provision of ongoing support service to the children together with their families if the CPS workers identify that such services will enable the safety of children while at home (The International Save the Children Alliance, 2003).
Finances
The state or local are financing the policy through the funds allocated for child protection as well other non-governmental organizations concerned with the rights of a child. Additionally, community groups and resources will help in financing and the success of its implementation (DeVooght, & Cooper, 2012).
Conclusion
Child protection is an area of significant concern to families and society in overall. This is because, children are affected in environments that are inadequately protected where they suffer the abuse of all kinds, neglect, exploitation, and violence, all which affects all aspects of a child’s development including health, academic performance among others. As such, child protection policy is a fundamental and crucial step in ensuring the safety and protection of children. Therefore, every member of the society should take the policy of child protection with seriousness and adhere to standards. They should also assist with issues such as reporting any form of abuse they notice to promote the welfare of children’s right, which will translate to a better society in the future.
References
DeVooght, & K., Cooper, H. (2012). Child Welfare Financing in the United States. Retrieved May 11, 2018 from https://childwelfaresparc.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/child-welfare-financing-in-the-united-states-final.pdf ).
Ring, O. (2012). Protecting our Children and Young People. National Youth Council. Retrieved May 11, 2018 from http://www.youth.ie/sites/youth.ie/files/Protecting_our_Children_and_Young_People_NYCI.pdf
The International Save the Children Alliance. (2003). Save the Children: Child Protection Policy. Retrieved May 11, 2018 from https://resourcecentre.savethechildren.net/sites/default/files/documents/2690.pdf
UNICEF, UNHCR, Save the Children and World Vision (2013). A Better Way to Protect ALL Children: The Theory and Practice of Child Protection Systems. Conference Report.
World Vision (2012) Fragile States and Child Protection Systems: Implications for Policy and Practice World Vision, USA
