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Reforming child protective services

J Waldfogel1

  • 1School of Social Work, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.

Child Welfare
|February 5, 2000
PubMed

Insights

The child protective services (CPS) system is failing to protect at-risk children and provide necessary family support, indicating a critical need for reform. This article proposes a future vision and actionable steps for transforming the current CPS system.

Area of Science:

  • Social Work
  • Public Policy
  • Child Welfare Studies

Background:

  • The current child protective services (CPS) system faces widespread agreement on its crisis status and urgent need for reform.
  • Significant challenges exist in adequately protecting at-risk children and delivering essential services to families.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current problems within the child protective services system.
  • To outline a vision for reforming the child protective services system.
  • To suggest actionable strategies for transitioning to an improved future CPS model.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of current CPS challenges.
  • Conceptual framework development for system reform.
  • Policy analysis and recommendation formulation.

Main Results:

  • Identified critical systemic failures in child protection and family support.
  • Developed a comprehensive vision for a reformed child protective services system.
  • Outlined practical pathways for implementing necessary changes.

Conclusions:

  • The child protective services system requires immediate and substantial reform to effectively serve vulnerable children and families.
  • A clear vision and strategic implementation are crucial for transforming CPS.
  • Addressing current deficiencies is paramount for ensuring child safety and well-being.

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