Publication: Protecting Children from Abuse and Neglect

• Behrman, Richard E.

This issue of the journal focuses on efforts to protect
children from abuse and neglect, primarily through the
government child protective services (CPS) system.
Pressures on this system have mounted steadily, spurred by
the spread of substance abuse among parents, rising rates
of family breakup, deepening poverty, and cuts in social
services. The changes brought by welfare reform may create
new demands on the child protection system—the ultimate
safety net for children.

Today, overburdened CPS agencies investigate reports of
child maltreatment and work with the legal system,
community service networks, and family members to devise
ways of assuring children's safety either in their families
or in out-of-home placements. The system succeeds in some
cases and fails in others, often with tragic consequences.
Funding constraints, staffing challenges, limited
knowledge, and a lack of public support all impede efforts
by CPS to protect children. Key questions concern when and
how CPS should intervene in family life, and which supports
and services it is appropriate for society to provide to
help families cope with child-rearing problems.

Only recently have reformers focused on the “front end” of
the child protection system, where decisions are made to
substantiate allegations of maltreatment, provide family
preservation services, or recommend foster care placements
for children in dangerous situations. Few government
agencies have a task as emotionally laden as the CPS effort
to protect child victims of abuse and neglect. Few agencies
are as controversial. Few have as much power over the lives
of vulnerable children. It is crucial that we both
understand and strengthen these agencies, and complement
their efforts so children can truly be safe.

The articles presented here summarize knowledge and
experience in selected areas that we believe are relevant
to improving public policies in the United States that have
an impact on child protection. We hope the information and
analyses these articles contain will further understanding
of the important issues and thus contribute to reasonable
changes in policies that will benefit children.