Description
Protecting Abused and Neglected Children
Michael S. Wald, J. M. Carlsmith & P. H. Leiderman
Foreward by James Garbarino
Although over one million American children are reported each year to authorities as being abused or neglected, there has been very little empirical research regarding the best way of protecting children from future harm. This book presents the results of a study of one of the most hotly debated aspects of state intervention: whether it is better to leave abused or neglected children at home, with special services provided to the family, or to place them in foster care.
The study followed two groups of abused and neglected children over a two-year period in three California counties: one group remained at home, the other was placed in foster care. A control group of children who were no abused or neglected was also studied. Researchers examined the two groups of abused or neglected children in terms of physical well-being, academic performance, emotional health, social skills, and personal happiness during the two-year period. They also explored the "attachment" issue to determine whether foster care met the children's need for emotional security. It was hoped that the insights gained would help decision makers - legislators drafting new laws and judges or social workers deciding individual cases - make better decisions about appropriate intervention.
The picture that emerged was surprising in many respects. Most surprising, and disturbing, was the limited ability of either home placement with supporting services or foster care to significantly improve the children's well-being, except that school attendance improved with foster care. The final chapter discusses policy implications that follow from the findings.
Michael S. Wald is Professor of Law, the late J. M. Carlsmith was Professor of Psychology, and P. H. Leiderman is Professor of Psychiatry, at Stanford University.
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This is a reproduction edition from a scanned copy of the following original edition:
Title Protecting abused and neglected children
Authors Michael Wald, J. Merrill Carlsmith, P. Herbert Leiderman
Publisher Stanford University Press, 1988
ISBN 0804714207, 9780804714204
Length 249 pages
Tags:
foster care, foster children, foster parents, Fanshel, However, foster home, San Mateo County, Hispanic, chil, dren, self-esteem, Santa Clara counties, home children, abused and neglected, neglected children, foster child, abused or neglected, mental illness, home and foster, comparison children 
