Question

1. Which cause of child maltreatment are most difficult to address? Which ones are most amenable to intervention?

2. What is foster care? What are its strengths and weaknesses? What changes would you propose to improve the system?

Answer 1

1. Which cause of child maltreatment are most difficult to address? Which ones are most amenable to intervention?

Child abuse such as physical, mental, sexual, and emotional are the most difficult to address because there is a lasting impact on the child that causes a lack of trust in others. Since the abuse is mostly at the hand of the primary caregiver or the secondary are giver, trust is lost. A child who does not trust someone who wants to help is difficult to treat. The child cannot be blamed because the abuse tolerated is of such nature.
Neglect on the other hand is the most reported and the most amenable of intervention. Neglect could be physical, medical, educational, or emotional. This could arise out of ignorance, religious beliefs, personal principles, difficulties, financial aspects of the caregivers. It usually can be fixed by intervention in the form of social service or child care services because the child is not attended to due to any or all of the above reasons. Also, the child can immediately be made to feel safe by removing him/her from the risky or negligent environment.

2. What is foster care? What are its strengths and weaknesses? What changes would you propose to improve the system?

Foster care is when a minor is placed at the care of a caregiver who is state certified and takes the responsiblity of providing the child with basic necessities, education, and protection. The state usually provides the compensation for expenses unless the child is given to a family member.

Strengths:

1. Presence of a caregiver to look up to
2. Food, clothing, and shelter are guaranteed
3. Protection is provided for by the caregiver
4. The minor may find a family in the caregiver
5. Helps with better rehabilitation

Weaknesses:

1. Chances of abuse at the hand of caregiver
2. Exploitation of resources by the caregiver

It can be improved by proper verification and regular accountability of the caregivers. Better communication and proper follow up by the state authorities is what can make the foster system work as intended.