Child Protection Essay

Child abuse prevention is frequently an ideal strategy for both public and private institutions to undertake. As a result, the book advances the goal of eliminating child neglect and ill-treatment by providing consistent recommendations for reducing child maltreatment. Though it is impossible to totally eliminate incidences of mistreatment of minors, the book contains recommendations to ensure comprehensive reforms are implemented to protect children from abusive parents and guardians. Child Protection Services (CPS) and social workers face several challenges in protecting neglected and abused children (Myers 3).In “”Child Protection in America: Past, Present, Future”” by John Meyer, the first four chapters talk about one major idea of child maltreatment from close family members mostly parents. These chapters present various cases of children who have suffered this brutality not to know who turn to for help. Moreover, the abuses range from molesting, sexual assault and physical abuse. Victims of psychological abuse often suffer from Chapter one of the book gives cases and instances whereby innocent children are abused sexually and physically by those close to them. Those whom they are supposed to turn to for protection are the same people mishandling and mistreating them.

The chapter gives an example of a small boy by the name Eli who died out of regular beatings he received from his father. Despite the case being reported to the CPS, the parents never mended their ways. The doctor, Dr Millican recommended to the CPS to act on the cases of abuse on the young boy not once, but the institution took no action leading to the death of Eli that night. However, CPS has a lot on its hands to deal with as it entails to child neglect and abuse (Myers 4).

Moreover, another case of Barbara Feaster is narrated. She suffered in silence molest from her father who should have stood to defend her. Barbara became abused as early as at the age of six years until she was sixteen. Many victims of molestation never disclose the abuse they have been receiving from the loved ones and close family members. Social workers have a big responsibility to fight for the rights the abused children. Victims of molestation usually suffer from low self-esteem, depression and stress. With the help of considerate social workers, self-confidence will be restored in the lives of victims. For instance, in this case, Barbara got assigned to a young social worker from the CPS who helped her gain her composure while adapting to a healthy life. Her self-esteem regenerated as she wished off the guilt of sexual abuse from her father (Myers 5-7).

Child protection gained momentum in 1874 with the rescue of Mary Ellen, a nine-year-old girl living in Hell’s Kitchen in New York’s devastating residential. Mary used to receive beatings and at the same time being neglected by her guardians. Missionary, Wheeler, who solicited for help from child charities who lacked the power to intervene in Mary’s family, however, saved her. Luckily enough, Henry Bergh, the founder of American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals came to the rescue of Ellen. The relief expedition marked the conception of the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NYSPCC) to help protect the rights of abandoned, neglected and abused children. The formation of this organization marked a significant history in the prevention of children from abuse (Myers 28).

NYSPCC was not only a major event but an inspiration for the later creation of the juvenile court in 1899 with the first court being set up in Chicago. These courts soon spread across the entire world becoming the greatest innovation of the time for protecting the rights of abused and neglected children. More legislation became enacted in attempts to boost the efforts of the non-state-owned child protection welfare societies. For instance, in 1912, the federal government of the US created the Children’s Bureau to take care of this sect in the community. That was not enough as a more comprehensive legislation came to effect in 1921 to 1929 known as the Sheppard-Towner Act. The law provided mothers and babies health and medical care. The move received a bold welcome from the child protectionist movements and associations (Myers 27-31).

Later periods saw the enactment of the Social Security Act in a bid to save the country from the economic dip. The Act increased the power and autonomy of Children’s Bureau to work in close collaboration with government agencies especially in the rural areas to protect those children identified to be homeless, neglected, abused and vulnerable to abuse. Moreover, the number of children in foster care caused an alarm leading to the Congress enacting laws regarding the ensuring of a permanency plan for these kids. Retrospectively, the Adoption Assistance Child Welfare Act became adopted in the 1980s. That way, it opened the way for adopting children from other races who had begun experiencing prejudice (Myers 81-103).

The laws enacted by the federal and states governments positively impact on the security and well-being of the children. The legislation also provides a conducive environment for the formation and thriving of social welfare associations for the protection of abused and neglected children. Sexual abuse inflicts not only physical pain but as well induces stress and depression on the children. Children suffering from anxiety and depression in most occasions develop trauma-related conditions. Therefore, enacting laws and Acts such as the Child Welfare Act facilitate the identification and prevention of child maltreatment (Myers 81-100).

The book identifies and recognizes the contribution made Etta Wheeler in sparking the efforts necessary to begin a child protection agency. However, Etta did not execute the roles alone but became assisted by Henry Bergh who was the founder of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a charitable organization responsible for protecting the rights of animals abused and neglected. Elbridge Gerry, a lawyer to Henry also played a very memorable role in ensuring that Mary gets justice. In making sure that nothing stood in the way of protecting the plight of abused kids despite no laws being defending the children (Myers 27-28).

De Francis input in writing and documenting cases of child abuse in news articles and scholarly papers helped raise awareness among most people about child neglect and maltreatment. The history of abuse of children has undergone a lot of transformation both through legislation and lobbying. The efforts committed by Etta, Henry and Gerry helped ensure that several states institute laws as well as measures to comply with protection of abused and psychologically maltreated (Myers 451-54).

Without the input of the above persons, child protection could have taken longer to receive recognition. More children maltreatment cases would be reported and gone unattended to with more deaths of innocent kids. The rescue of Mary Ellen marked the beginning of legislation on child protection. At that time, Ellen was rescued by the animal welfare laws due to the absence of legal rights of children. Elbridge and Henry, through their input, helped save the life of Mary and inspired the formation of New York Society for Protection of Cruelty to Children which became a significant movement fighting for and protecting the abused and neglected children in the society.

Works Cited

Myers, John E. B. ”A Short History of Child Protection in America.” Family Law Quarterly 42.3 (2008): 449-463.

Myers, John E. B. Child Protection in America: Past, Present, and Future. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006. Print.