Category: Child Protection

Human trafficking is a modern concept for slavery, being a world-wide problem and a serious violation of human rights that affects thousands of people. At the moment, it is the leader in the top three most profitable crimes in the UK. (Democracy life, 2010)

Unfortunately, there have been a lot of traffic victims among children as well, the UK being one of the destination spots for child trafficking. But, what do we understand by this concept? As stated by the United Nations Palermo protocol, child trafficking is defined as ’’the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring of receipt’’ of a child for exploitation purposes. (2000)

According to statistics, a total of 4550 children were identified by the UK authorities as potential victims of trafficking in 2019, up from 3137 in 2018. 76% of them were boys. 174 children were found in Wales. Speaking of current year, there have been more traffic victims among children rather than adults in the second quarter, the children representing 58% of total referrals. (Child trafficking in the UK, 2020)

Considering the increasing numbers, the government representatives in the UK are constantly coming with new bills and laws that have the purpose to help those affected by human trafficking and to convict the perpetrators. One of those bills is Human trafficking (child protection) bill, originated in the House of Commons in 2019.

Peter Bone, who has been a conservative MP in Wellingborough since May 2005, Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Human Trafficking, and Treasurer of the APPG on Human Trafficking of Women and Children, introduced the bill in 2018. It is a private member’s bill, also known as a public bill introduced by MPs or Lords to the UK Parliament. He has shared his initial idea about it during the second debate for ’’Child victims of human trafficking (central government responsibility)’’ bill on the 29th of January 2016. As he commented: The Prime Minister has shown great courage on the human trafficking issue, but the problem comes with how children are looked after; they do not go into that system, and that is what I am trying to solve with this Bill. (The work for you, 2016)

The first reading took place on Monday, the 10th of February in 2020, without a debate. The second reading for this bill, which represents the next stage, is scheduled to happen on the 22nd of January 2021. Although this is a very important issue, the Bill has yet to be drafted and due to the pandemic it will not be for a little while. (Human Trafficking, Child Protection Bill, 2019)

Mr Bone has been campaigning on human trafficking since 2005, and he initiated the child protection bill because, as he comments: The system may be working for adult victims but for children trafficked in our country the situation can still be bleak. The failure of our system in properly protecting victims of child trafficking is in many ways a national scandal that must be addressed by Government. He believes that the Government should take care of those children that have been subjected to human trafficking and protect them from future harm by creating of secure safe houses for them. They must be helped back into society. (Bone, 2018) Also, if their case is being investigated, the legal representative must be provided for free. (Weatherburn, 2019, 112)

The bill is needed, because at the moment there is no special care for children who have been or are suspected to have been trafficked. Under the provisions of the Children Act 1989 and 2004 once rescued, the children are being transferred to social services, under the administration of the local government, because there are no specific support services for them. (Hynes, 2015) Unfortunately, the majority of those social services treats them like regular homeless or missing children, which is very wrong. They are being placed with other, non-trafficked children, where security is restricted.

The research in 2009 showed that 4 out of 5 children in orphanages were given up by their parents for the purpose of profit, that’s where the term ’’paper orphans’’ is being used, and represents another form of child trafficking. (E van Doore, 2016) A lot of children of a very young age need particular care, because they may develop attachment difficulties, while teenagers might attempt suicide. (Greenbaum, 2018, p.160) It’s obvious that those victims of child trafficking need special attention, psychological support and therapeutic group sessions, especially considering the fact that the adults, after being rescued by police, benefit from more care and protection in safe houses. (Beddoe, 2017) So why are the kids being treated worse than the adults?

According to Mr. Bone, it often happens that the children who have been rescued, are found and forced back by the criminals who originally trafficked them. If those children have had a better care and most importantly, have been placed in secure houses, like the bill insists, that would not happen. (Bone, 2018) In Manila, Philipines, things are fare more different than the current situation of the support that trafficked children get in the UK.

Mr. Bone had the chance to visit one of the secure houses for trafficked children, and that visit has given him the knowledge and the inspiration to sponsor the Child Protection bill. What he was impressed by is that, first of all, the location of the secure house is kept a secret. Second of all, it has security guards who check the identification of everyone who visits. The design of the house, even the decorations, have been chosen with care, so they can have a positive impact on children’s self esteem and make them feel more comfortable and safe. That is what Mr. Bone wants to achieve by promoting the Child Protection Bill – a safe and secure environment for all the kids, where they can leave the fear behind the gates. (Bone, 2010)

Considering the fact that we live in a high developed era, where our scientific, medical and technological possibilities and knowledge are advancing daily, we still don’t know how to properly take care of each other, or don’t want to put more effort into that. It’s a shame that human trafficking is still a thing in 2020, and it’s obvious that it probably will never end, but we must do everything in our powers to help everyone who has been subjected to trafficking, and do that quick, because the future is in our hands, and the kids represent the future.

The department of child safety, youth and women is a Queensland government lead agency focusing on child safety and adoption services. The department of child safety provides statutory child protection services for young people and children. Child protection services aim to give the family the capacity to nurture and care for their children at home. Child Safety Officers use skills and knowledge to build relationships, complete assessment, implement change through intervention to support children and strengthen families.

Children and young people should be cared for, kept safe and protected to be able to reach their full potential.

Profession- Child Safety Officer

Child Safety Officers work with the families of vulnerable children to ensure they have the support they need to safely care for their children at home (Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women, Queensland 2020). Child safety officers work with families to ensure the safety of children who have been harmed or who are at risk. Child Safety Service Queensland has centres throughout Queensland, offering a range of alternative work environments from the tropical north to the outback expanses (Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women, Queensland 2020). Child safety offers a range of professional development career opportunities such as policy and practice development, staff management, mentoring and training. Working as a child safety officer is a very challenging career, but rewarding knowing you are implementing strategies to keep vulnerable children safe.

Roles and responsibilities of the position of a child safety officer

Child Safety Officers (CSO) role is to provide statutory protection services for children under 18 years old, including casework, case management and intervention when required. Assessments are completed following legislation and practice guidelines with peak bodies within the child safety service (Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women, Queensland 2020). Child safety officers empower families on how to care for their children through the child protection process safely. Child Safety Officers have the responsibility for understanding entities such as support for Indigenous children.

Child safety officers have the responsibility to investigating allegations of suspected child abuse and neglect, and determining appropriate interventions following legislation, policy and practice guidelines (Legal Aid Queensland 2020). The principle is that the safety, wellbeing and best interests of the child are paramount.

Employment context required qualifications, experience and skills to become a CSO

There are two pathways to becoming a Child Safety Officer in Queensland. Pathway 1- must hold a bachelor level qualification from an accredited Australian tertiary institution in social work, human services, social welfare, psychology or behavioural science (Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women People and Culture 2020). In late 2008 criminology and criminal justice bachelor degrees became included as a behavioural science (Cather 2020).

Pathway 2 – Other bachelor degrees that have completed a minimum of six subjects related to human services, psychology or behavioural science are acceptable. Study which includes assessment and intervention skills for work with families, individuals, groups, communities, organisations and other social systems are favoured. Applicants within pathway two are also expected to have either an additional qualification plus 12 months full-time relevant work experience or part-time equivalent (Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women People and Culture 2020).

Experience and skills beneficial to child safety would be to be able to engage with young people, children and families to facilitate assessments and guide them through change. Knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and issues relating to overrepresentation in the child protection system would be beneficial (Hutt & Clarke 2012). Knowledge of child development, human behaviour and interaction, cultural factors, family dynamics and interpersonal violence would be valuable for understanding the complexity of what child safety officers face throughout their careers.

Employment pathways within the child safety profession

Once you are employed as a child safety officer you must undertake an extensive professional development program. The recruitment team provides new university graduates training to enhance their professionalism and leadership skills (Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women People and Culture 2020). The 12-month training program is mandatory, designed to develop specific skills and knowledge to work in the field of child protection.

The 12-month program enables graduates to participate in work placement and mandatory professional development activities to become competent within the department (Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women People and Culture 2020). Career progression through training and personal development can lead to becoming a Senior Child Safety Officer (SCSO), Senior Team Leader and lastly a Senior Practitioner (Queensland Government Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women 2020). The 12-month development program is compulsory to develop the skills to work in child protection services.

Current strengths and skills

Even though I am young and have no experience in the child safety profession, I feel this profession is for me. I have spent many hours speaking to a family friend who is a child safety senior officer. My strengths noticed by my family friend was my maturity and open-minded opinions towards problems in society today. I have a friendly manner which children seem to like and young people seem to respect. I believe injustice and that improvement can be made in children’s lives through child protection services. I am open-minded and have many friends from different walks of life. I respect people’s choice of their religion they wish to follow, whom they want as their partner, and I am not racist. I am not scared of being in stressful situations. I am strong and fit and can stand up for myself when needed which within the field of child services could be helpful. I work well within multidisciplinary teams but also can work independently. I enjoy a challenge and have excellent communication skills which within the field of child safety is crucial for positive outcomes.

Required qualifications, experience, and skills

I am in my second year of a bachelor degree in Criminology and Justice completing courses in psychology, social science, human services and mental health. I am focusing my electives on building knowledge that will be beneficial in the child safety profession. Being able to liaison effectively, negotiate, communicate, resolve conflict, problem solve, be accountable, focused and responsible are skills required to become a child safety officer.

Areas for improvement

Child Safety Officers need to know about children. Over the next two years I will be studying Mental Health and Social Work, Youth Justice and Restorative Justice, Social Work and Human Services, Working with Victims and Offenders, Working with children youth and families and Introduction to Indigenous Australia. I want to develop further understanding in a range of subjects to give myself a broad spectrum of knowledge which could be beneficial to my future career. My improvement areas would be communication and verbal skills, I don’t like speaking in front of large groups. I am hoping to complete Professional Placement in 2021 within the field of child protection. Understanding more about risk factors associated with abuse and neglect of children and links to mental health and sociological reasoning can help me prepare for my career.

In concluding, to work as a competent child safety officer, development of a robust positive commitment is required to be able to work under challenging circumstances. Professional development to become a child safety officer requires dedication and the strong desire to make a difference in the lives of young people and children. With my bachelor degree and relevant elective subject knowledge, I hope to be a confident and knowledgeable employee. I will focus my improvement area towards verbal and written communication skills. I will continue to be an empathetic, responsible and trustworthy person who is reliable. I will dedicate myself to ongoing training and commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of children and young people.

Reference List

1. Cather, W 2020, Study.com, Is Criminology a behavioural science? viewed 15 March 2020, https://study.com/academy/answer/is-criminology-a-behavioral-science.html
2. Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women People and Culture 2020, Child Safety Officer Recruitment Team, viewed 8 March 2020, https://www.csyw.qld.gov.au/about-us/careers
3. Hutt, S & Clarke, 2012, “Improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Support in Out-of-Home Care,” Children Australia. Cambridge University Press, 37(2), pp. 76–79. doi: 10.1017/cha.2012.16.
4. Legal Aid Queensland 2020, Child Safety’s role, viewed 12 March, http://www.legalaid.qld.gov.au/Find-legal-information/Relationships-and-children/Child-protection-overview/Child-protection-legal-information
5. Queensland Government Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women 2020, Child protection careers, viewed 6 March 2020, https://www.csyw.qld.gov.au/about-us/careers/career-opportunities/child-protection-career

This is the ability to use the knowledge in different practice scenarios while assessing parents; it starts from a general systems theory that incorporates human development ecologically. Therefore, it is sensitive and listens to the people’s stories rather than their composure, and it also provides a theoretical and conceptual clarity that ensures a child’s welfare. The critical view takes into account the practical and emotional aspects of parenting. When adopting a critical lens to a child’s protection practice, Milner (2015) suggests the primary analytical document should be the Trevithick conceptual schema for knowledge. Trevithick’s model contains the three core domains that a social worker must acquire to ensure competence. The three-core domain is knowledge from other disciplines, for example, psychology, practice theories, or discrete set of ideas that outline social work models and practice knowledge that is adapted under different scenarios (Milner et al., 2015). The practice theories should be incorporated from the Social Care On-Line, parenting, and parenting assessment sources to obtain factual information. Therefore, the approach was tested through experienced social workers who had had a two-year experience or more and who attended a master’s course in Northern Ireland. The author administered the course for seven-plus years from (2006-2013) to different classes of students. A module in the course emphasizes the enhancement of the social worker’s competence in assessing parental capacity, basing on both factual and theoretical knowledge (Forrester, et al., 2012). The author records the reactions of the social workers to the materials that dwell on assessing the essential characteristics of a eutopia assessing model for parents and studies the hindrances to such a model and considerations on the opportunities and constraints I the social orders roles and skills, knowledge values needed for one to be a competent assessor.

The Australian Association of Social Workers (ASSW) defines child assessment as an ongoing informing decision-making practice that involves finding out, sorting, and weighing factors that affect children the youths and their families (Gillingham 2017). Assessment should take place when reported and gains the attention of the social service or before and continues to the closure of the case. Schmidt and Stokes (2012) note that it is difficult, challenging, and fraught to make decisions regarding child protection. According to Gambrill (Davidzon, 2010), decisions are usually based on conflicting, unreliable, and insufficient bits of information that are in a pressurized environment. Social workers are required to decide on the safety of the child despite this uncertainty, and this includes the decision on whether a child should be put into foster care or whether to supplement additional family support. These not so random decisions can affect and change the lives of children and their families. The application of theoretical knowledge is more real and not a controlled lab test, and therefore the social worker should incorporate the learned skills in the actual environment and learn actual practicing. Milner (2005) speaks of repetition with a variation, which is the art or practice of social workers to understand the individual situation of the client.

The power element in the social worker-service user relationship should be maintained. The power element suggests that the relationship could be well understood should be facilitated by the social worker in terms of equal opportunities to close the gap. For an assessment to be effective, it needs to consider the impact of the availability or lack of resources. Similarly, it asserts that oppressed groups’ policies should be used in case of oppression issues (Milner et al., 2015). In addition, the diversity element should also be acknowledged. Milner (2015) states that different people’s situations and people are diverse and should differ from one’s assessment. There are differences in power, role, race, lifestyle, culture, work, education, degree of stigma and other factors that differentiate the roles of a social worker and those of a client or the service user. The differences create a gap that is upon the social worker to bridge (Milner et al., 2015).

The United Nations Convention in the Rights of a Child (Williams 2013) states that the rights of the child should be the topmost priority. It adopts a rights-based approach consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. It prioritizes on ensuring that all children are heard, consulted, and considered in making life-changing decisions I regard to the child’s ability and understanding. It also states that all children should be informed on the same, and these rights should be accorded in disregard of religion, race, gender abilities, beliefs, or culture. The rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and children who hail from linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds are considered when assessing.

The assessment of the family is deemed ‘a process’ rather than the completion of a ‘tool.’ The assessment procedure incorporates both the engagement of the family and filling a form that can be used in the assessment. A comprehensive assessment does not, however, entail only filling the form. AASW takes the safety of the child first and also considers future safety in case of later mistreatments, child parental protection, and their wellbeing. The assessment is deemed to provide information to help children, youth, and families to cope with new challenges, deal with safety issues from the child and other members or make decisions on the appropriate intervention and when reviewing the effectiveness of the decisions. According to risk and analysis snapshot outline (Tunick et al., 2011); Australia should put into consideration the changing family dynamics, for instance, the ability of the parent to prioritize the child’s safety and needs, and the hindrances. Snapshot also focuses on determining the possibility of a later child breakdown if nothing is done. The snapshot covers the vulnerability of the child in terms of their developmental age, special needs, parental beliefs, and temperament. It also addresses the strengths and protective factors that include factors that might predispose them to risk and concerns.

For an effective working corporation with Australian families, a comprehensive CP assessment needs to be done, and it should include; preparation on the people to see, data collection from the people met, weighing the data on the current social and psychological theory, and analyze the problem and determine its seriousness and utilizing the analysis, this includes finalizing the judgment, and it involves risk-taking (Milner, 2015). Holand (2010) noted that assessment is faced with deficiencies that can be due to over optimism, lack of expertise, service user dissatisfaction, and preoccupation with past problems. Likewise, Holand (2010) asserts that these familiar problems are the cause of unsatisfactory results, which include child deaths. The optimistic social worker believes that they are experiencing progress and filters out concerns and anticipates a breakthrough. This does not, however, mean that the social worker should focus on the negatives, but ensure a balance of all expectations. The social worker should ask when a client is not faring well, and the reason while a client on the other side can fake the compliance or refuse to acknowledge the problem. When clients make the process seem legit, although it is not, conflicting information incidents of child harm is evident. It comes from family members, professionals, neighbors and children. According to Peterson (Hoy et al., 2011), optimism, hope resilience, and positivism can be detrimental to progress. He noted the dangers of optimistic approaches that are optimistic that relate to accidents, illnesses, and child protection work. Accordingly (O’Reilly et al., 2010), states that the effects of hope which closely relate to hope and emphasizes keeping goals. The Australian review sees hope as a belief in one’s initiation, sustenance, and achievement capacity. Optimism is a positive approach that involves appraisals and making the best of what is seen as recorded by. Nonetheless, O’Reilly et al. (2010) refers to the negative pessimism effect being accompanied by negative results that deter change. He also emphasizes cultural variation; for instance, he noted that pessimism works for Asian Americans but not for Caucasian Americans.

To successfully support the family, all the past documentation needs to be reviewed, and this includes reviews of past experiences, family contacts, safety assessment, observations of the home environment, and any past specialist information. Likewise, to support the family, a meeting should be arranged with the family. Other supportive people should also be invited if they wish, and older children should also be involved. Other relevant people are former care providers who might help in the identification of the problem. The meetings help to draw the full picture and also assist the service providers in understanding those who can impact positively on the journey to change. Judgments should be made in the presence of the family, especially where violence is the case. An understanding of the family structure is required, their residence, and how they connect is important in solving the issue. Important information that can be drawn from these meetings is religious, tribal, and cultural affiliations that help to address the problem. Important tools to implement in this process are genograms, ecomaps, and ethnographic interviews. Broader issues that are detrimental to the safety and children’s wellbeing are also noted in the session. Other things that can be dwelt on are the parents’ view on why they are involved with social services. Through exploring their reform pleas may make the social worker notice their dedication to become better and might implore the social worker to suggest and support them in achieving the goal. The meetings also implore parental views on social work and their concerns on their children’s safety. They can recount of past social service encounters and determine the effectiveness of past recommendations. The meetings are also important in determining current problems that the problem that family is experiencing, for instance, work issues and injuries.

Meeting the relevant staff and agencies should be conducted; this includes the parent’s employers and other social services they are involved with. Some relevant people are family service providers and early childcare providers. Also, specializes assessments should be gathered; the social worker should involve other specialized agencies for a conclusive CP recommendation. The recommendations should take into consideration the mental health of the child, developmental issues, parental drug abuse, and their effect on a child’s growth and education.

Upon realizing the problem, attention should be focused on specific concern areas that affect the children’s wellbeing. Recommendations from specialists should also be weighed in the service plan. The social worker should also help the family in recognizing their contribution to the process to work, and this includes recognizing their strengths. Sorting out ways the family can help to contribute to the achievement of the safety and wellbeing of the children. The caseworker should critically take the process of making decisions from information gathered. The caseworker is required to employ risk reduction measures at first and ensure safety. The caseworker should also recommend services that address family problems. This judgment should put in use family strengths and weaknesses; therefore, the child’s caseworker should ensure the children’s safety. The children should also be assessed in the presence of a family member but not the parent. Due to their young age, behavioral aspects can be observed, which include psychological effects. Reviewing the process is useful in the evaluation and prevents concentration on the problem by the caseworker. Reassessment should, therefore, be carried out and should include all the parties. The review should be followed by the drawing of a plan and a review of the four systems through updating the maps according to progress. The maps assist in avoiding the assumption that the client or the parent is the lone beneficiary but integrates other parties too.

References

1. Analysis and Risk assessment Snapshot BICPM: Child Protection Manual 2015.
2. B. Arad-Davidzon, R. Benbenishty (2008). Children and Youth Services Review.
3. Forrester, D., Westlake, D., & Glynn, G. (2012). Parental resistance and social worker skills: Towards a theory of motivational social work. Child & Family Social Work, 17(2), 118-129.
4. Gillingham, P. (2017). The Australian Association of Social Workers and social policy debates: A strategy for the future?. Australian Social Work, 60(2), 166-180.
5. Holland, S. (2010). Child and family assessment in social work practice. Sage.
6. Houston, S. (2016). Assessing parenting capacity in child protection: towards a knowledge‐based model. Child & Family Social Work, 21(3), 347-357.
7. Hoy, W. K., & Tarter, C. J. (2011). Positive psychology and educational administration: An optimistic research agenda. Educational Administration Quarterly, 47(3), 427-445.
8. Kim, J. R., LaLiberte, T., Heldt, J., Piescher, K., & Snyder, E. M. (2012). Comprehensive Family Assessment intake baseline addendum: Summary of cultural advisory group findings. Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.
9. Milner, J., Myers, S., & O’Byrne, P. (2015). Assessment in social work. Macmillan International Higher Education.
10. Naidu, T., & Behari, S. (2010). The parent-child-therapist alliance: A case study using a strategic approach. Journal of child and adolescent mental health, 22(1), 41-50.
11. O’Reilly, R., Wilkes, L., Luck, L., & Jackson, D. (2010). The efficacy of family support and family preservation services on reducing child abuse and neglect: What the literature reveals. Journal of Child Health Care, 14(1), 82-94.
12. Regehr, C., Bogo, M., Shlonsky, A., & LeBlanc, V. (2010). Confidence and professional judgment in assessing children’s risk of abuse. Research on social work practice, 20(6), 621-628.
13. Tunick, R. A., Mednick, L., & Conroy, C. (2011). A snapshot of child psychologists’ social media activity: Professional and ethical practice implications and recommendations. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 42(6), 440.
14. Williams, J. (Ed.). (2013). The United Nations convention on the rights of the child in Wales. University of Wales Press.

INTRODUCTION

Children are the future prospects of society. The traits, culture, uniqueness of communities is carried through generations by them. Therefore, they should be protected and nurtured by the society. It is the responsibility of parents, families, communities and the nation to serve for the cause. This article is an earnest effort in understanding the historical, cultural and social contexts of child protection work.

NEED FOR CHILD PROTECTION

In Australia, remarkable child welfare problems started with the white settlement way back in early 18th century. Neglected children lived in very harsh situations. Deaths during the 1860s in Melbourne reported to be of neglect and maltreatment of children. Maltreatment included various forms of physical, emotional and sexual abuse in children. It was during the 1960 – 1970s that the State witnessed a remarkable change in the child welfare system for children-at-risk by shouldering responsibility to respond to maltreatment concerns. A national policy for child protection has been developed in National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children including children and young people as stakeholders.

DEVELOPMENTS IN CHILD PROTECTION

In mid 1990s many policy makers argued for fostering family care for children resulting in enacting legislations to render protection to them. Various States in Australia brought in major reforms by amendments in legislations and enhancing provision of services through referrals to ‘Child and Family Information, Referral and Support Teams’. Child maltreatment issues are taken care of by these service providers. Over many years there had been over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children removed from their families and taken care by child protection services. This is always a matter of concern for the Nation. The Government continuously adopts strategies to minimise the vulnerability to the trauma caused during protection processes (Fernandez. E. 2014). An empathetic and transformative form of approach is essential to engage the service providers with Indigenous Australians and representative organizations thus highlighting the erosion of the rights of Indigenous children (Briskman 2016). In a recent UN Committee report on the Rights of the Child, the views of vulnerable children was found to be shocking as there exists a gap in quality of life for Australian children (Coade 2019).

POSITIVE PRACTICE OPPORTUNITIES WITH FAMILY

As a social worker, I should use a social justice lens while working with children and families. For the effort of writing this paper, children-at-risk due to parental substance use has been taken as a case scenario. This becomes essential when there arises a need for me to visit homes providing early intervention program functioning to support substance using parents in collaboration with Drug and Alcohol Services, Department of Child Protection and other support agencies in the community.

Working in such programs will give an understanding that parental substance use is not a standalone issue. It is more likely associated with complex mental issues, hopelessness and at risk of homelessness, poverty, deprivation, social isolation, unemployment. These result in disrupted functioning of the family that impacts the child’s physical and psychological safety and development. These circumstances lead to serious concerns on child protection. It is vital to identify the stigma and pressure experiences by substance using parents in context to their own history, life events and conditions that may impact their capacity to care, build secure attachments with their children and cater to their physical and emotional needs (Bromfield et al., 2012).

Substance misuse of parents certainly has long-term impacts on children, disturbing their physical, emotional and social development as a child and as they grow as an adult (Waddell et al., 2014). Conversely, it is important to recognise that not all substance using parents abuse or neglect their child. Some evidence in literature specifies how individuals who use drug and alcohol have shown to be capable of parenting on a continuum that has been accepted as satisfactory and reasonable (Suchman, 2001).

POTENTIAL BARRIERS TO POSITIVE PRACTICE

It appears that more the parents encounter stigma and bias in the society, the more they experienced shame, guilt and fear of having the children removed from their care (Russell, 2006). It becomes harder for people who use drugs or have a history, to reach out services for support (Cousins, 2005). It becomes mandatory to identify the needs of such families and help them get relieved of the suffering pain.

WAYS OF MANAGING CHALLENGES

By closely working with parents and families, I would be able to understand that fostering relationships with respect and collaboration with the families is crucial to apply interventions in order to minimise the harms of parental substance use on their children (Bromfield et al., 2012). I am confident that strength-based and empowerment models would prove as most constructive engagement strategies for such families-at-risk. As the primary focus is on child protection, strength-based approach in this context can act as a solution-focused intervention. The capacities, values and hopes of parents are recognised and used in positively engaging them to work towards a safe environment for their children (Saleebey, 1996).

It would also be appropriate to practice empowerment approach with families by involving them in the process of goal setting to empower them to take ownership of the set goals and work towards accomplishing them (Bromfield et al., 2012). Such an empowerment would provide families with motivation for change (Miller & Clunies, 2000). Besides, a change process incorporating community-based strategies and poverty aware practices would provide positive outcomes for children and families (Harris 2017). We as human beings should treat others as fully human (Young 2014).

The following principles of practice would help social workers use harm-minimisation approach as a philosophy of social justice and human rights:

• Enabling the voice of substance-using-parents to be heard and have their say in the services designed for them to use.
• Seeing substance using parents beyond their issues of drug and alcohol use.
• Acknowledging that social disadvantages such as poverty, homelessness, unemployment increases the vulnerability of families-at-risk.
• Empowering substance-using-parents to be primary agents of change towards minimising the harm of substance use on their children and promoting their safety and well-being.
• Articulating substance use as a social issue rather than a health issue.
• Promoting a non-judgemental, non-coercive service delivery (Coalition, 2001).

My ethical decision-making is guided by the ETHIC framework by Congress (1999) which I believe best suits the circumstances of my practice. The framework would help me to identify who will benefit and who will be harmed in view of social work’s commitment to the vulnerable (Disadvantaged parent with substance use issues or the children in their care). It offers me the constant reassurance of making ethical decisions by directing me to consult my supervisors, AASW Code of Ethics (2010) and the laws of Child Protection.

CONCLUSION

In the effort of writing this paper to articulate my philosophy of social work, I have been able to critically reflect on what social work means to me, and how I put my knowledge and skills to use and how I conduct my practice (Mackie, 2007). Continuous statutory policies and interventions are taking place to address problems in child protection and family support practices. As social workers we should advocate for the early childhood services and support families for a happy and peaceful life.

Generally speaking, the mission of Child Protection in Kurdistan is to ensure that all children, irrespective of gender, ethnicity, country of origin or religious belief, have the means to survive, are safe and have access to food, primary health care, and basic education. Furthermore, work to ensure a better future for all boys, with a comprehensive approach to the many aspects of their lives. This essay will cover the history of one of the major NGOs in Kurdistan, in the name of (Kurdistan Save the Children-KSC), in which it has the oldest root. It is worth to mention that Kurdistan is only a government without being independence since 1991, and it is under the supervision of Iraq.

Kurdistan Save the Children is a non-profit, non-political, and non-sectarian organization that assists regardless of gender, race, traditions, religious or political affiliation. They work with children in various fields of child protection, sponsorship, health, and education. the main aim is to work directly or indirectly, to ensure a better future for children, through improving and providing their various medical, social, economic and educational needs. It has been founded around since 1991, by Ms. Hero Ibrahim Ahmed and other well-known dedicated people who believe in the child’s right to a trouble-free childhood. The main office is located in Sulaymaniyah in Kurdistan Region/ Iraq. Kurdistan Children’s Fund (KCF) is a partner organization of KSC, registered in the United Kingdom since 1993, which works as an international fundraising body for KSC. The Child Protection Program was established in 1991 to protect children’s rights in the Kurdistan Region/Iraq within the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Children are the main priority of Kurdistan Save the Children’s programs and projects. The services that they provide, work to implement a peaceful and suitable environment to ensure every child is provided equal opportunities to protection, development, and participation with regards to their highest interests through KSC’s diverse sectors and department programs and projects in coordination with other integral members of society such as family members, community, government, and local and international organizations.

KSC’s objectives: Child Protection is the main priority since the services provided in Education, Health, Youth, Sponsorship, and Children with Cancer programs all fall under the umbrella of protecting children’s rights. From the beginning of its establishment in 1991, Kurdistan Save the Children has put all its efforts into providing children with a protected environment, far from all forms of maltreatment and exploitation in collaboration with local and international organizations to ensure no child is mistreated in any form. The Convention on the Rights of the Child and all additional international laws and agreements relative to the rights of children are standards for all our projects and activities in child protection. Within the framework of child protection, the strategies Kurdistan Save the Children uses in its projects and activities, in short, and long-time frames, is to work on: protecting vulnerability of children, child marriage, protecting them from maltreatment (abuse), juvenile justice, child trafficking, working children, and cases of undocumented regards the children.

Kurdistan Save the Children’s Stakeholders: Children are the main priority of KSC’s programs and projects. The services that they provide, basically work to implement a peaceful and appropriate atmosphere to ensure that every child provided equal opportunities to protection, development, and participation with regards to their highest interests through KSC’s diverse sectors, department programs and projects in coordination with other integral members of society such as family members, community, government, and local and international organizations. Also, they believe that alongside with integral members of society will guarantee and improve the ratio of the protection of children and their rights. Families are the most effective atmosphere to nurture and educate children omitting cases that are not in favor of the child’s highest interest. Moreover, they have constantly suggested and encouraged the government, local authorities, and organizations, also worked with the assistance and participation of the community regards to the children. KSC works to strengthen the relation between integral members and responsible parties of the child protection system to further improve and develop the coordination and support between them to work together to provide a safe and protected environment faraway from all forms of child abuse, harm, maltreatment, and exploitation. Ultimately, they have worked on a local community and governmental basis to identify shortcomings and needs, in order to strengthen child protection and the systems as well, through laws and national policies to make sure the child rights, therefore the provision of all their needs in a way that is suitable and in correlation with international criteria in order for children to live their life peacefully in and with a family, community environments, additionally ensure to the best abilities child development and protection.

KSC Organization Chart

From the executive summary report from 2018, in which it is the twenty-seven anniversary, a new year begins, but children still in need of assistance. Regards to working toward its long-term goals of decreasing the number of fatalities in children with health issues, reintegrating children into school environments, upholding the protection of child rights, supporting child protection and juvenile justice laws, also highlighting and developing the abilities of young generation through the continuance of its various outcomes. People from a different background, perspectives have been working and visited them at a time, such as: Kurdish, Arabs, Turkmens, Sunnis, Shias, Christians, and Assyrians had many conflicts outside of the KSC building, but it became a place to get together them. Despite the fact that Kurdistan is undergoing a financial crisis and there was a shortage of stable fund sources in a few years ago, with the help of locals, companies, international donors, and all the child friendly community members who donated through KSC’s collection boxes, they were be able to continue to provide support to children and youth in the fields of child protection, health, education, sponsorship, and youth development. Instabilities and tensions happened in Kurdistan between different sects, also between Kurdistan Region and Bagdad Governments (capital of Iraq), as a consequence of these conflicts, Sadly, Kirkuk’s office was closed in 2018.

Child Protection

KSC mainly aims to protect children from all forms of abuse, exploitation, and neglect by providing emergency relief to children, or in the consequences of emergencies and disasters. According to the Annually Report by KSC, in 2018, they have provided psychological, and financial support to juveniles who have come in contact with the law. Numerous workshops have been presented in the purpose of enhancing the staff’s ability at the juvenile justice institutions in Sulaymaniyah, Kirkuk, Erbil, and Duhok. Moreover, the project ‘Children at Risk’, (which intended to identify and protect children working, begging, and under threat of others) was conducted with the help of the juvenile police, governmental police unit initially established with the support of Schneir influential Child-friendly Space program sponsored by UNICEF to provide psychosocial and case management support for around (6000) child refugees and displaced children residing in camps in Sulaymaniyah area came to an end in 2017, due to the lack of funding. KSC also provided aid emergency to immigrant families from other places in Sulaimaniy and Garmyan, as well as emergency relief to the intense earthquake(7.8magnitude) survivors in Darbandixan and Halabja

KSC administered some programs for children, include the following:

• Sponsorship Program. it is monthly financial support through sponsors for a brighter future for the children without parents or children of parents with low incomes, for children to continue in their education. In 2018, through the Sponsorship Program, around 1500 children received monthly support, which was provided mainly by IQ Company, local and international sponsors and the donation boxes.
• The Education Program consists of different numbers and long-term projects that aim to provide a secure environment for, particularly children where they can improve their skills and encourage them to currently, KSC manages seven children’s cultural centre’s operating for children located in strategic areas, Another educational project is ”Shahid Jabbar Exemplary School”, considered as one of the well-known schools KSC continues to manage the tutorial training for Children with Special Educational Needs, as one of the only places that serve children who cannot continue their education in-state school settings.
• Health. In this program, they have been working to improve the health of children by providing financial and referral assistance in need of surgery and medicine. Because families are usually unable to access the medical care needed, due to the low income, for this reason, KSC funds surgeries for hundreds of children annually (nationally and internationally) and invites foreign medical teams to Kurdistan to perform surgeries and train or mentor local medical staff. In 2018, (1035) accessed to the treatment, whereas 428 of them received access to surgeries in Kurdistan or an abroad through this Program, refugees and IDP children that staying in Kurdistan were among them. KSC also supports some public Hospitals including Shar Hospital’s Neonatal Unit- Sulaimani, Sulaimani’s paediatric Hospital, the Burn and Reconstructive Hospital-Sulaimani, and the Children’s Training center-Sulaimani.
• Children with Cancer Main objective goals of this program is providing cancer-stricken children, and their families particularly with psychological and social support. This project proceeds to provide its services throughout Hiwa Hospital in Sulaimani, Nanakali Hospital in Erbil and Zhin center in Duhok with the help of several volunteers (particularly They try to use a different technique when children receive treatment through the organization of psychosocial rainbow include day trip, birthday celebration, support group parent meetings, and awareness campaigns and activities on how to help cancer-stricken children, as well as filling the gaps in treatments, medicines or screening when it’s necessary.
• The Youth Ability Development Program. Early on, because of the lack of space where youth could display and promote their capabilities and skills, Kurdistan Save the Children opened the Youth Activity Center with the assumption of providing a place where children could extend their growth after the age of twelve. Although, there are many places for youths to visit nowadays, KSC’s Youth Activity center are recognized for their work as an extra curriculum learning institutions and vocational training centers. The center opens various courses for both genders equally that engage children. After the course, certificates will be given to the graduates which can be used in professional fields and has since caused a high demand for the youth center courses.

And some of the projects that have been done by KSC in 2018, listed below:

• Juvenile Justice. The aim juvenile justice program is to strengthen and advance the juvenile justice system in the region. Juvenile Justice refers to all the institutes that directly deal with juveniles who have come in contact with the law. Such as the juvenile court, juvenile reformatories, police stations, active rights and conditions of the juvenile justice system, custody centers and institutions and faculties that are not yet available or active in the local practicing judicial systems and law. These services are important in protecting their rights and preventing crimes or misbehaviour in the future.
• Legal Services. The provision of legal services to juveniles who have come in association with the law. include legal representation of juveniles in court, providing legal proxies for juveniles, assisting the release of juveniles on bail and providing legal counseling and assistance to juveniles and families. The total number of beneficiaries: 927.
• Social Psychological Services. This service is related to juveniles who have come in contact with the law. This co-operation is implemented by psychological or social workers through the processes of case management, visiting juvenile’s families, and referring cases to interested parties. The total number of beneficiaries: 1428.
• Strengthening the Capacity of Juveniles. who have come in Contact with the Law. With the purpose of improve juveniles into the community and strengthening their abilities, through organizing a different number of sports, arts and life skill activities. The total number of beneficiaries: 455.
• Strengthening the Capacity of Staff at Juvenile Justice Institutions. The total number of beneficiaries: 331.
• Financial Services. Within this service more than 500 items and aid has been distributed to hundreds of juveniles.

Children at Risk Project

Another important project assists children that are at risk of child protection concerns such as children who are exploited by their guardians to work or beg in public places (like street or bazzar) and are at a higher risk of being abused. KSC conducted an assessment to identify the scale of this issue in the year 2017, the results showed that 424 children between 4-14 years old in Sulaimani were under the risk. In order to protect these children, KSCs staff in coordination with the Sulaymaniyah mayor presented a workshop with the attendance of relevant institutions and organizations to display a project to prevent the issue. KSC with the help of juvenile police by creating the committee includes 4 psychologists, a bus, a driver, transportation expenses for 8 policemen and officers, as well as food and necessities for those children. In seven months of visiting different public places to assess, monitor and protect children in harm’s way, the results were like this:

• 618 site visits were conducted to public places, work places, cafeterias, play centers, hotels, street corners, and intersections. 336 of the outings were at daytime and 282 of the outings were at night.
• As a result of the continuous field outings to public places and the Sulaimani bazaar, 483 children (379 boys-104 girls) were identified between the ages 4-17 years that were at risk. 345 of these children were I DPs, 37 children were refugees, 49 children were Sulaimani locals, and 52 children were from Sulaimani’s surrounding sub-districts.
• 372 child cases were managed, 372 meetings were held with guardians of the children at risk, 82 field visits were conducted to family homes, 50 cases were referred (24 cases were referred to UNHCR, 14 cases were referred to the Juvenile Police, and 12 cases were referred to Social Care), and 59 violations were identified by employers against children.

From this essay report, I will be stressing on what is progressive nurturing, child care and protection were all about. Besides, their status and how can we apply it in our nation. In fact, progressive parenting and child care and protection is the frequent union of a parent and an infant and that involves loving, training, leading and providing of basic requirement of a youth regularly and completely. (Seay et al., 2014, p.207) Also, child care is the general term that defines some circumstances in which offspring are provided with control, care and learning by people outside the child’s immediate family or the concerned for children who are below the stage of 0-6 years.

As well, child protection is the safeguard of children as of violence mistreatment and carelessness. The purpose of the United Nation Agreement on the right of an infant is to protect children in and out of the house. As a result, the positive parenting and child care and protection are the two significant policies that are very paramount in the lives of children over the performance of their parents. Through the major support of UNICEF, working collaboratively with the government, they both effectively strengthen the child protection system by stopping all systems of violence, mishandling and mistreatment of children. At that point, it supports the children constitutional rights and capacity of constructing and transfer of main facilities. (UNICEF PNG, 2018)

Likewise, some of the importance of positive parenting and child care protection are mostly stated below:

1. Basically broaden the knowledge of the parents to provide moral behaviors to their children.
2. Upkeep the parents to grow their development abilities, pinpoint funds which support them, comphrened and meeting their children’s wishes and protect them beneath any mistreatment.
3. Positive parenting helps minimized feelings instruction associated with different encouraging consequences between parents and their offspring.
4. It declines family struggles and pressure, behavior difficulties and behavior illnesses among children and enriched flexibility in the middle of children and parents. (Joussemet, Landry & Koestner, 2008)

Some of the common areas that positive parenting, child care and protection that is most required to be applied in our country Papua New Guinea are: it must be applied in every individual homes where parents communicate to their children, should be applied in schools where teaches must applied to their new learners, and also should be applied by the close relatives in the surrounding communities.

It is very important that, parents should have learned about positive parenting, child care and protection because to imparted better understanding to the children to develop a bright knowledge in the future. Every adult within and around this world, at some point, they will still become parents. And they must accept the fact of being a great parent is not that simple, also there were some tremendous challenges of guardianship that will be confusing and leads us to astray.

It is vital on behalf of parents to be watchful of arresting a steadiness among helpful feelings and bad feelings. This will support parent’s run-through and not getting caught in negative feelings. They will be able to improve positivity for themselves, and perfect it for their children. This in return will provide opportunity and build a progressive standard of living for their everyday life.

However, in every responsibility, there is an answer to every solution, especially in our country Papuan New Guinea, the people have attitude problems and sometimes lack of understanding towards their own children, so parents are in desperate need of being well-educated in positive parenting, child care and protection because the future of these nation is laid on the hands of these young generations. In order for this to happen the parents have a duty to take step by step in daily routine which will enable the family unit to develop confidently and able to achieve some of the goals and plans their set in their children’s life.

In addition, positive parenting and child care and protection ought to be necessary practice or training to be given by every parents in the community in order to enhance child development and additional skills. When the children come to a stage where he or she become independent, at that point can be aware of doing what is ethical and productive for the country. This can be the result of what they learned throughout their childhood.

Thinking critically and stay positive is a good practice of one’s life. It is a lifetime mindful of the significance of having a confident approach about life expectancy, even though trials were arising our way. Reflecting on what is worthy in us be in this creation supports us in sustaining an encouraging outlook. The day to day duties of being a parent can set us in an achievement manner rather than a life mode. As a consequence, it can be stimulating for parents to keep up a helpful mindset. It is treasured for parents to proceeds dynamic stages to cultivate positivity for themselves and their families

As an upcoming social worker, it is our obligation to work hand in hand with the UNICEF, United Nations and other government and Non-government organization who were given and investing their best in the existence of the society on the humanity to promote the positive parenting and child care and protection. Besides there are other fundamental services which are being given to the communities in order to sustain the lives of the public and the advancement of this country.

If you think your child couldn’t be a bully, think again. Now, more than ever, it’s common that the average student to be involved in cyberbullying. The solutions lie with you as a parent to intervene before it’s too late. Guide your child on the right track.

Cyberbullying isn’t just opportunistic bullying, but aimed and targeted, often with the goal of completely destroying the person, it is aimed by driving them to suicide. Students who experienced bullying or cyberbullying are nearly 2 times more likely to attempt suicide. The responses to being victimized by a cyberbully include anger and sadness. Usually, the degree of problems offline is proportional to how much bullying behavior is experienced online, as the NAI states on its website. It’s vital that you intervene to stop this while you can. If a student appears to be shunned by nearly the whole class, or if your child has always been positive and upbeat, but suddenly appears to withdraw or will not show you what he or she is doing on their phone, there’s a good chance bullying may be involved.

Some may say we are doing all that we can do to stop bullying, and maybe we are. It’s hard to keep an eye on kids and monitor their every move on the Internet and cell phone use. There are ways that kids can hide what they actually do, and they can make locks so their parents can’t get in. Many kids are private and don’t want to open up about what they are doing. However, there are kids, crude and hurtful, that won’t stop the bullying; we can’t just sit around and let this be done. Cyberbullying, the biggest type of bullying around, may never find a true resolution to being stopped. Parents need to monitor and regulate their child’s use of the Internet and cell phones. They also need to be more open with their children and talk about the responsibilities that come with having these networks and cell phones. Although some people think that an easier approach will just be to delete the social networks you have in order for the cyberbullying to stop. However, deleting your networking sites tells the bully that he or she has won and that you have given up.

Cyberbullying goes beyond the schoolyard in an attempt to harm every part of a child’s life. Intervene as soon as you can when you see the signs and you may save your student or child a great deal of distress, and perhaps even their life.

Rights cannot be overemphasized, as it is a privilege enjoyed by each and every citizen in the country. A right is a legal requirement and civil liberty which everyone naturally must have irrespective of the gender, religion, culture, tribe, race, disability, status or citizenship of the individual. Rights are constitutional and must be adhered to by the citizens and the government of the country.

Everyone is entitled to enjoy his or her right and with the constitution in place which duly outlines the rights of citizens from citizens to the adults and the aged, it would, therefore, be unlawful and inappropriate if such rights are not acknowledged.

Rights can only be void or restrained when a citizen does not adhere to the laws stipulated in the constitution whereby, he or she has to be reprimanded.

Focusing on child rights, therefore, would require also stating who a child is. The definitions of a child will be discussed in subsequent pages by different individuals and bodies. However, for the purpose of an introduction, a simple definition would be needed.

Based on age, a child is a person who falls between the ages of 0(from birth to a year)- 17 years. Everyone has a view on who a child is on different bases. In fact, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Committee of the Red Cross contrast themselves in the definition of a child.

Child Rights, continue to be an issue of universal investigation as these rights are often violated and it is essential to imprint these rights in the minds of citizens to avoid their violation. Child Rights, from the definitions of a right and a child, can therefore be said to be those privileges enjoyed and accredited to persons between the ages of 0 to 17 years which is legal requirement.

Children cover about 27% of the world population and it is a necessity to recognize their rights. As children are still growing and developing, they are especially vulnerable and could be severely and permanently affected by the infringements of their rights ((UNICEF), United Nations Chidren’s Fund; (ICJ), International Commission of Jurists, 2015).

Over the years, cases have risen concerning the violation of child rights both by parents and fellow citizens straight from exploitation to moral and material neglect, torture or inhuman treatment, slavery or servitude to performance of forced compulsory labor; the list is definitely endless and some of these violations will be treated. Hence, it would be safe to say that there is a need to address some legal backings or provisions safeguarding these rights to protect the children and avoid further violations or infringements.

As stated in the introduction, different bodies have definitions of a child which differ in their own way.

According to the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of the Child, a child is a person below the age of eighteen years except in the law applicable to the child, the age of majority is attained earlier. Also, the Labour Act defines a child as a person under the age of twelve years and a young person under the age of fourteen years. The Children and Young Person’s Act, defined a child as a person under the age of fourteen years and a young person to mean “a person who has attained the age of fourteen years and is under the age of seventeen years. The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child defined a child as “every human being below the age of eighteen years”.

The International Committee of the Red Cross defines a child as an unaccompanied minor below 15 years of age and not being accompanied by an adult.

From the definitions above, one can not really define the specifically who a child is and this has caused different misconception to arise over time both in the day-to-day activities of citizens and in legal activities concerning children. However, the acceptable definition applicable for legal proceedings is that of the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

Rights in this context, are those that belong to humans; Human rights are those rights that belong to every individual- men or women, girl or boy, infant or elder- simply because she or he is a human being. They embody the basic standards without which people cannot realize their inherent human dignity. Human Rights are universal, therefore, no has to earn or deserve them. Rights are inalienable, one cannot lose their rights unless he or she ceases to be a human being. Human Rights are both abstract and practical as they hold up the inspiring vision of a free, just, and peaceful world and set minimum standards for both individuals and institutions should treat people. They also empower people to take action to demand and defend their rights and the rights of others.

The United Nations being an international organization is committed to maintaining peace, security and to promote human rights; and one of the ways this is done is by international human rights agreements also known as treaties.

The United Nations came up with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948 chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt. At that time, the world was very different place. Years of war had left the better part of two continents in disarray. A geopolitical reordering saw an Iron Curtain fall across a continent and a Cold War rise across the globe. And the world was waking up to the unconscionable horrors of the Holocaust. From the ruins of the Second World War came a call to enshrine fundamental human rights. Facilitating this moment of global introspection was a Philosophers’ Committee under the direction of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The Committee enlisted leading thinkers – from Mahatma Gandhi to Aldous Huxley – to contribute their insights about a proposed Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The work of the Philosophers’ Committee was then passed to the UN Human Rights Commission.

Human rights have in one way or another brought about peace in the world today as it has helped in promoting good governance in some parts of the world. Individuals across globe benefit from human rights treaties and can be called right holders.

As stated above, everyone has human rights, and children as humans enjoy some of the international rights in the human rights treaties and can be classified as rights holders.

However, child rights infringement has become a matter of both national and international concern. Different programs have been put in place to ensure that these vices are curbed. The field of human rights relative to children’s rights, is more developed.

The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has also deemed it worthy to stipulate laws that would safeguard children from violations of their rights, one of which is:

• The state shall direct its policy towards ensuring that children, young persons and the aged are protected against exploitation whatsoever, and against moral and material neglect.

The child under this constitution includes a step-child, a lawfully adopted child, a child born out of wedlock and any child to whom an individual stand in place of a parent.

Statistics shows that children have been constantly involved in the growing prevalence of exploitative and hazardous forms of child labour, and related child trafficking, as well as begging. Some female children suffer from sexual exploitation and commercial sex work, including across borders; child marriages also affect girls mainly in the northern part of Nigeria. From the diagram above, one can clearly justify the fact that there has been lack of effective mechanisms to get rid or reduce the issue of child trafficking globally.

Children have the right to be loved and protected and to be treated with care and respect, to experience a sense of belonging and safety in their family, community, and nation, to express their opinions and ideas. Most times, this is not the case for some children as there is reluctance to allow these children to participate progressively in decisions as their maturity develops.

Children must be in schools and not at work, redeemed from the world of drudgery and the monotony of mindless activity. They must be in schools and not at work, as only then they would be investing in their own well-being and growth not be subjected to exploitation which creates assets and wealth for the exploiter. Children must be in schools and not at work, so that they do not live precarious lives as marginalised citizens unable to access their rights and fulfil their potential. Children must be in schools and not at work in order to access their right to education and all their entitlements to recreation, sports, co-curricular activities, health and noon-meals. Children must be in schools and not at work so that they develop confidence to make informed choices contributing to their own communities and the world they live in as enlightened citizens. Children must be in schools and not at work to break the inter-generational cycle of poverty and ignorance. Children must be in schoolslearning to think, explore, discover, question and acquire knowledge to be one among us, enriching and liberating themselves, paving the path for future generations of children and in the process, the entire nation. Children must be in schools and not at work for a more just society with equity and fairness leading to deepening democracy in our country.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child provides an example of the evolution of a UN Convention. In 1959, a working group drafted the Declaration on the Rights of the Child, which consisted of ten principles that set forth basic rights to which all children should be entitled.

However, a declaration is not legally binding law; these principles needed to be codified in a legally-binding convention. The drafting process lasted nine years, during which representatives of governments, intergovernmental, and specialized agencies like UNICEF, UNESCO, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and nongovernmental organizations, such as Save the Children, worked together to create consensus on the language of the convention. The Children’s Convention was adopted by the General Assembly in 1989 and was immediately signed by more nations in a shorter period of time than any other UN convention. It was ratified by 61 states and as a result entered into force in 1990. Furthermore, the total number of member states that have ratified the CRC has surpassed that of all other conventions. As of Fall 2000, only two member states had not ratified it: Somalia and the United States.

India as a country is home to a lot of regressive cultures that will be deemed to be inhumane and barbaric in most of the world. With our history being plagued by the infamous ‘sati’ system the life of some women has never been a fairy tale in this country. Jogini, Devadasi or call them ‘India’s forgotten sex slaves’, India has already become the hub of child trafficking where every eight minutes a child goes missing. “Devadasi system is a religious practice in parts of southern India, including Andhra Pradesh, whereby parents marry a daughter to a deity or a temple. The marriage usually occurs before the girl reaches puberty and requires the girl to become a prostitute for upper-caste community members. Such girls are known as jogging. They are forbidden to enter into a real marriage”. There is a striking similarity between the joint system and child trafficking the difference is just that the girls are not kidnapped, they are devoted. 

What does the law say?

There are an ample number of laws that have abolished the inhumane practice. The Madras Devadasis (Prevention of Dedication) Act was enacted on 9 October 1947 just after the independence which does provide an insight into the minds of the lawmakers. The law was expected to be very instrumental in bringing the women upfront, still, it didn’t do well though it promised women the right to marry and abolished the practice. The prostitution of Jogini was abolished in the region by the 1956 Madras Anti-Devadasi Act. Since then there had been various similar legislations abolishing the Jogini system including the 1934 Bombay Devadasi Protection Act, the 1957 Bombay Protection (Extension) Act, and the 1988 Andhra Pradesh Devadasi (Prohibition of Dedication) Act. The 1988 Act is the last legislation that dealt with the issue but as it is the sad reality of the country, the implementation of this legislation is not even close to satisfaction. 

Child rights infringement

One of the most important principles behind the whole joint system is the age of the girl and owing to that ‘girls as young as five may be dedicated to being as jogini’. The law has conferred children with various rights which can broadly be categorized into four ‘right to survival’, ‘right to protection’, ‘right to participation’, and ‘right to development’. The Jogini system blatantly violates all these rights and gives no choice to the victims to even think about these rights. Though the practice has been abolished in 1988 there has been enough evidence to show how the whole system is prevalent in some parts of the country. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh the two states together have about 80,000 Devadasi women. The major factor in the joint system is extreme poverty, traditional beliefs, and superstitions. Almost all the joints are married off at a very young age and then as they become the ‘property of the village’ they have to suffer from various atrocities. The Joginis are the victim of sex slavery or temple prostitution and as they are deemed to be servants of the gods they are illicitly used by people. Girls who are to be devoted are supposed to be young and have no proper education they have immense pressure and are supposed to bring fortune to the people. The Joginis are no more than sex slaves but the worst thing about it is that it gets strong religious and societal backing owing to which it is still prevalent in the country. What started as a highly respected cultural practice eventually trickled its way down to the lower caste system where it has warped into what is practiced today. “A more sinister form of the Devadasi sub-culture began engulfing women of the lowest caste and a type of glorified village prostitute was born – the Jogini.” There are innumerable child rights infringements that go hand in hand with this practice but still, there is not much done about it. The priest who pays for the dedication of the girl gets to use her as his slave as soon as she gains puberty and after that, she is sent back to her village to serve as a village prostitute. “At a tender age, all avenues of escape seem gone. Here begins the sexual slavery that she will endure for the rest of her life.” Joginis are not paid for the work they indulge in and are always considered to be a village prostitute. Young girls are forced to enter this system as they are considered to be a burden on the family and due to this prevalent gender inequality since birth, so many young girls end up in this vicious circle of sex slavery. 

What can be done?

Though the estimated number of Jogini is 80,000 still this number might not reveal the extent of the problem. The economic factor is the biggest hurdle in eradicating this from the country. People can be educated about the whole system of sex slavery but their economic condition would still pull them down. The biggest question still being that how can we prevent such violations of child rights. There has to be a much more focused plan of action against the people who are in the process of devoting these young girls. The toughest thing would be to prevent those girls who are in the process of being devoted. There are various NGOs working in this sector to prevent such violations of Child Rights and they do have some good action plans but it won’t bear any fruit until the government actively supports it. Considering the fact that the practice still prevails even though it has been decades since the whole system has been deemed to be illegal gives a not-so-optimistic image for the future. In the end, it boils down to two things economic conditions and education, the government needs to put active efforts into these factors if we have to end these child rights violations. 

Conclusion

There is a long road ahead and what we need is an active support/partnership between the government and NGOs. The Jogini system has not always been construed from the perspective of child rights violations and the rehabilitation of the victims has been the primary motive of the NGOs and the government. We have to strike at the root of the problem so that we could end this inhumane practice plaguing the country. Proper implementation of the law is the way forward and it has to be taken as a priority issue. Educating these people is the primary concern and efforts need to be made in this direction. Still, “the freedom of the Jogini lies in more than legal paperwork and stamps. It will be found in the strength of the Jogini women themselves and the discovery of their self-worth and the reshaping of their communities.”  

Abstract

The protection of children is a value shared by all cultures and communities around the globe. In almost all societies, responsibility for raising children well and preparing them for adulthood goes beyond the parents and is shared, to some degree, by the community at large. The community’s investment in the well-being of its children is reflected in cultural mores and social norms, and in legal frameworks that permit intervention in individual families when children are abused or neglected. Exploring the experiences of social workers and police officers in working in the child protection helped the researcher in identifying the pressuring problems and challenges faced by the child protection. This study will help the future researchers formulate solutions for the enhancement of the protection of the children. This study conducted a one-on-one interview and secondary analysis of data. All of the respondents of this research are registered, voters. Under a qualitative approach, this study used thematic analysis in order to interpret and analyze the data gathered. In the light of Republic Act 7610, it assessed the political and civil rights of the abused children that are well-being safeguarded by this law. Also, it shows in this study that the implementation of the said law continuously gives strong protection to the children but more needs to be done.

Keywords: child abuse, child protection, police officers, social workers, interplay, RA 7610

Introduction

Children in the Philippines are guaranteed their rights, and their best interests are enshrined in the Constitution, the basic law of the country, as well as in other laws. All institutions of the land – from family, school, church, community, and others – are called upon to protect and promote the welfare of the Filipino child. In fact, the Philippines is among the first countries in the world that has adopted a Child and Youth Welfare Code. Passed in 1974, the Child and Youth Welfare Code, also known as Presidential Decree 603 (PD 603), contains provisions that articulate not only the rights and privileges of children but also the responsibilities of the State and its institutions toward children and youth. (Capadocia-Yangco, 2010)

The Philippine government through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) and among other agencies have embarked on a comprehensive and integrated approach to children’s development along the areas of survival, protection, development, and participation. Part of this holistic approach is the prevention and early detection of child maltreatment as well as the recovery, rehabilitation, and after-care for maltreated or abused children. (Capadocia-Yangco, 2010)

Different types of services that provide help and support for children in need; those who were in conflict of the law and the ones who experienced trauma and abuse. Moreover, these types of services have different potential professionals, or as we call it in this study, “players/actors” in child protection units and those are the doctors, psychiatrists, nurses, police officers, lawyers, judges, social workers, and even the civilians in the community who have been a witness and has the power and ability to report it. These actors in child protection units have a critical role more than we see it and this study focused on the specific relationship of the roles of the police officers and the social workers.

Importantly, in terms of child protection work, an analysis of the perceptions of police officers and social workers remains vitally important because it may help us to understand more fully why the social work/police relationship has historically been the focal point for ruptures in joint working relationships (Gillen, 2002; Orkneys Report, 1992; Secretary of State for Social Services, 1988). The key aim of this article, therefore, was to illuminate how police officers and social workers perceive their jobs and each other, and how their roles connect and contribute to the vitality of the protection of the children.

Theoretical Background

The researcher sought to extend this work by relying on the Practice Model to help families achieve positive outcomes, child welfare systems throughout the country are strengthening their approaches to practice. Effective child welfare systems are founded upon and driven by an overarching theoretical or conceptual framework that unifies all domains of agency functions. A child welfare practice model is a conceptual map and articulated organizational ideology of how agency employees, families, and stakeholders should partner in creating a physical and emotional environment that focuses on the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and their families.

The practice model contains definitions and explanations regarding how the agency as a whole will work internally and partner with families, service providers, and other stakeholders in child welfare services. A practice model is the clear, written explanation of how the agency successfully functions. The practice model should make an explicit link connecting the agency’s policy and practice with its mission, vision, and core principles. It is a framework to guide the daily interactions of employees, families, stakeholders, and community members connected to their work with the child welfare agency in conjunction with the standards of practice to achieve defined outcomes.

Literature Review

Challenges Facing the Child Protection System

Many steep challenges face the nation’s system of response to child abuse and neglect. In 1994, almost 3 million reports of child maltreatment were made by concerned individuals who took the initiative to make the report and who expected their actions to be helpful to the children. The allegations were substantiated by authorities about one-third of the time. The result for some of these children was that their families received help. An appropriately smaller number were removed from their homes to protect them while their families were given the chance to benefit from services. The current system is advanced compared to what was in place even a generation ago, yet it still does not respond effectively to all legitimate community concerns for the safety of children. (Schene, 1998)

Different roles played in child protection

Other agencies and community members also play critical roles in protecting children from abuse and neglect and responding to maltreatment once it occurs. This broad community system includes the individuals who report abuse and neglect, the hotline that receives and evaluates reports, and the CPS agency that investigates those reports. Law enforcement officials or police officers may participate in the investigation by gathering evidence and helping to decide whether to remove the children from the home, and they press criminal charges against perpetrators when such charges are warranted.

Reports of abuse or neglect that warrant investigation are typically assigned to a CPS staff member or social worker, who must draw conclusions regarding the validity of the allegations, the identity of the perpetrator, and the condition of all the children in the home. The CPS worker also determines the need for further agency oversight of the family, the need to remove the child or perpetrator from the home, and the need to immediately involve law enforcement, the courts, or other service providers in the community.

Juvenile and family courts hear the allegations of abuse and neglect brought against families by police and child protective services agencies, and they decide if the situation makes it necessary for the child to be placed outside the home, if services to the parent should be ordered by the court, or if no action is needed. This is the forum for considering safe alternatives to removal such as providing services to the family, removing the abuser from the home, or sending the child to stay with relatives. (Schene, 1998)

Assumption 2: There are different roles being played in Child Protection Units and each one of them contributes huge help for the protection of the children.

Child protection policies

Republic Act 7610 “An Act Providing for Stronger Deterrence and Special Protection Against Child Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination, mandates the DSWD and the Department of Justice (DOJ) in coordination with other government agencies and the private sector concerned, to come up with a comprehensive program to protect children against child prostitution and other sexual abuse, child trafficking, obscene publications, and indecent shows or other acts of abuse and circumstances which endanger survival and normal development. RA 7610 was further amended by RA 9231 to provide for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour and afford stronger protection for working children.

In the meantime, Republic Act 9262, known as the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004, seeks to prevent all forms of violence against women and children to secure their physical, sexual and psychological well-being and has specific mandates for the DSWD. Under this law, violence against women and their children is considered a public crime. Temporary protection orders are issued to restrain the offender from causing further violence. The same is true for RA 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act which institutes policies to eliminate trafficking in persons, specially women and children.

From a review of what the Philippines has adopted and implemented for the prevention and management of child abuse/maltreatment, a great deal has been achieved, but more needs to be done. Having codes and laws that are specific to child protection, welfare and development has established the legal framework from which the Child 21 and Comprehensive Program on Child Protection were built on. These laws and framework plan have likewise laid the network for an integrated and multi-disciplinary approach to tackle the phenomenon. It likewise somehow articulated the political will to prioritize the issues relating to children.

Assumption 2: There are different roles being played in Child Protection Units and each one of them contributes huge help for the protection of the children. Two main roles are police officers and social workers who face difficulties every now and then. ASSUMPTION 3: How police officers and social workers perceive their jobs or roles and each other in the child protection unit must be reflected with Republic Act 7610

Simulacrum

(Interplay between Police Officers and Social Workers in Child Protection) (

• Made a large impact on the protection of the children
• Gave importance and relevance to the role of police officers and social workers in the CPU) (
• Lack of social workers
• Lack of Facilities
• Complicated cases due to unclear concepts and terminologies in RA 7610) (Implementation of the Law) (The Relationship between the Police Officers and Social Workers’ roles) (Challenges being faced by the Police Officers and Social Workers)(
• Social workers draw conclusions regarding the validity of the allegations, the identity of the perpetrator, and the condition of all the children in the home
• Police officers participate in the investigation by gathering evidence and helping to decide whether to remove the children from the home, and they press criminal charges against perpetrators when such charges are warranted)

Method

A qualitative approach is used in this study because through this approach it helped the researcher to identify and interpret the information and the data gathered.

This study used a narrative design to simply narrate the experiences and stories of police officers and social workers on how they handle the job or case. Furthermore, narrative design helped the researcher explain clearly the information on the data that has been gathered. The method used in this study is descriptive method under a qualitative approach. The researcher described and have been identified whether police officers’ and social workers’ roles have a huge impact on both ends. Also, through a descriptive method, it helped the researcher to describe furtherly the situation of police officers and social workers regarding the conflict in roles they face and how they solve it. A one-on-one interview is conducted in order to gather an in-depth data about their day-to-day experiences in child protection. Also, in the data gathering procedure, the researcher collected secondary analysis of data. This data consists of report and related articles that used to formulate the interplay of roles between police officers and social workers. The researcher used thematic analysis, transcribing of interview, coding, and category as the main strategy in formulating the data that were gathered. Under thematic analysis, the researcher looked for recurring statements in the data. After that the researcher has formulated themes in the data gathered and was able to answer the research objectives of this study. The researcher conducted the study in Manila City. The researcher conducted an interview to two different social workers and police officers in Manila: LGU-Manila District 4 Office/Precinct. The researcher chose Manila City for this study because it is accessible to gather data.

Results and Analysis

Profile of the Informants

NAME

AGE

CIVIL STATUS

OCCUPATION

PO2 Sarah Julaton

34

Married

Police Officer

PO2 Roseann Sundiam

32

Married

Police Officer

Rofelia de Alca

29

Single

Head of Social Work

Mary

32

Married

Social Worker

Different roles played in child protection

In the interview, both the police officers stated that the main role of the police officer in the CPU is that, they are the ones who refer or turnover the case to the child protection especially if it is an abused cased or a Child in Conflict of the Law (CICL) case. They both explained that most of the time, the family or the child approach the precinct first because of the perception of the community that police officers are the ones who protect and maintain order in the area. The first police officer perceive their role as a very important role especially in filing the case because before the filing, they should have already investigated the case and the people involved thoroughly, checking the basic information so that they will have a solid ground on arresting and incriminating the perpetrator. On the other hand, the second police officer shared that being a police officer in the CPU is sometimes complicated, because of the law RA 9344 or Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 that states that even if the child is in conflict with the law, the police cannot just take responsibility of the child that is why they turn the child over to the social workers in the CPU.

As the interview continued, both the social workers agreed that the main role of a social worker in the CPU is to interview and assess the child; the risks, the safety of the child especially if the perpetrator lives with them, social workers will have to pull-out the child out of home, but in cases that the PNP can arrest the perpetrator first, the perpetrator will be the first to be removed from the area. And not only the police officers refer cases to the social workers in the CPU, but the social workers to the police also refer cases that need the involvement of the court.

Both the social workers attested that being a social worker in the CPU is complicated and challenging because the cases are always different. There are some cases that the perpetrator possesses political power, resulting to them checking not only the risk of the client but also theirs. The expert social worker, Ms. De Alca I interviewed clarifies that “As a social worker, your function should be really clear to you and whatever case you’re dealing with because if your limitations are not clear to you, you’ll be doing measures and procedures that are not involved in your role and affect the role of others; police officers, lawyers, or medic, who are also part of the case.” She also added that not because a social worker is registered, does not mean that they cannot be open for investigation and complaint.

Challenges in the work of the Police Officers and Social Workers

The work that a police officer and social worker do together is the interview with the child. The police or social worker cannot interview the child first and then the latter comes later. The protocol of the CPU states that the police officer and social worker should interview the child especially in cases of abuse, at the same time and once only to prevent the recurrence of the trauma to the child.

All of the four participants agreed on the challenges they face in the CPU. As the police officers claim, it is the availability of social workers. There are instances that the child is in urgent need of a substitute guardian and there are no present social workers in some offices. Unfortunately, social workers lack in numbers. Not all social workers are trained for child protection services. In LGU-Manila District Office, only 3 CPU social workers are assigned and authorized for the whole district. Another challenge is the lack of facilities when it comes to safekeeping of the child. According to the two social workers, the problem with this is that social welfare is not a priority of the present administration as the expert social workers said for social services facilities are seen as a “liability” because building a facility is not only the case, but the government must also fund the expenses needed to keep it going and functioning. There are also a conflict in cases when the abused case involves the Indigenous People because they have their own culture on how they will treat a perpetrator and that has to be respected, but as social workers, they always check the welfare of the child.

Child Protection Policies

The policies and laws that the participants encountered as cases were Republic Act 7610, Republic Act 9262, Republic Act 5385, Republic Act 9344-106330, Presidential Decree 603, Anti-Child Labor Law, and Anti-Rape Law. The only problem they see with those laws is that there are no backbones, it is not always supported by the NGOs, and if it is, a problem occurs when it is elevated to LGUs.

Abuse factors that contribute to the incidence of physical, sexual, emotional, or verbal abuse in Filipino families, such as intergenerational patterns wherein the perpetrators of the abuse come from the child’s family of origin, unconscious family myths that are passed on from generation to generation in families that justify the abuse, quality of marital relationship, the physical or emotional absence of the mother, child-rearing practices, family stressors, community beliefs, and substance abuse of the perpetrator. Experiences of child abuse appear to be a predictor that has been observed in earlier studies of violent behavior among convicted felons who committed violent crimes.

Discussion

Maguire-Jack and Byers (2014) find that having maltreatment prevention services within the county may influence CPS workers’ decisions to substantiate maltreatment and provide ongoing services, with some workers providing more services when community services were not available and others being more likely to substantiate services when families would not voluntary take up community services. Similarly, Fluke, Chabot, Fallon, MacLaurin, and Blackstock (2010) found that a lack of community resources was associated with the decision to place children into care, and was a contributing factor to placement disparities. However, caseworkers face many barriers to aiding clients, with service availability and accessibility limited (Geen & Tumlin, 1999). Even when services are available, agencies may lack the funding to pay for needed services or the staffing needed to provide adequate attention to each case (Geen & Tumlin, 1999).

The sole purpose of this study was to analyze the interplay between the police officers and social workers in the CPU, how they perceive each roles, and how the implementation of the Republic Act 7610 affects the situation in cases of child protection. The republic act’s function and goal is being implemented and complied to by different roles of different actors in the child protection unit specifically the police officers and social workers. There are many factors that affect the relationship of the roles of police officers and social workers and circumstances that hinder or limit their ability to get their roles acted upon.

Recommendations

After a review of conclusion and summary, the following recommendations are made: First, for the government, the government must strengthen the RA 7610 or the An Act Providing for Stronger Deterrence and Special Protection Against Child Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination. According to the participants, RA 7610 should not be amended but needs to be clarified in terms of educating the family about the terminologies and concepts of the law. There are cases that discipline is mistaken as abuse but as the law provides, if the child complains and is hurt, the parent must be subject to the court. Also, the government should strengthen Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004, specifically in the civil rights of women and children because this is one of the main cause or root of child maltreatment that happens inside the home. Second, to the legislature, the legislature body should elaborate more on the rules and laws pertaining to the procedure, evidence, and solution to cases of child maltreatment and more awareness movement to inform the people and the community that every child is our responsibility in terms of looking out for them. Third, to future researcher, try to focus more on the numerous of different cases and situations in which the child protection spectrum face that affects the child, family, and the roles of those professionals involved and give more attention on how they handle these cases.

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