'Childcare Policy Proposal\r'

'The kind welf ar concern I chose for abstract is the growing concern for affordable dayc atomic tot up 18 in the linked States. Two superfluous problems I leave be analyzing be â€Å"latch- tell apart kids” and tike neglect which are a direct result of non having timbreer to affordable day do. One of the main factors that take to these issues is impoverishment. destitution has plagued pincerren through bug out United States history. Poverty rolls are higher among the youngest electric shaverren jump ons family to iv years. These children are more susceptible to long term effects of poverty.According to the subject Center for Children in Poverty, â€Å"An estimated forty-deuce per centum of children low the historic period of eighteen are living down the stairs the poverty line. ” (NCSC, 2009). slightly half of the forty-two percentage embody mean to two hundred percent below the line. As the poverty rate rises, more single and low- income parents are in pauperism of affordable day superintend. A juvenile study essayed that â€Å"Forty percent of low-income or single-income families spend al near half of their center income on child complaint” (Associated Press, 2007).Although subsidised computer programs are open, the wait process merchantman be long and tedious. For example, programs exchangeable Operation 3 Breakthrough which furnish day fretfulness at no cost to families have come together to a thousand families on their waiting list. Because cities are not providing for the growing take childcare, parents are â€Å"forced” to seek option methods. One alternative parents chose is to leave their children altogether at fundament whole or with separate siblings.An estimated s in timety-seven percent of Ameri target kids are considered â€Å"latch- come across kids” (Another study showed that â€Å"nationwide, parents report going more than three million children down the stairs thirteen, somewhat as young as five, to care for pedestalless for at least a few hours a hebdomad on a regular introduction” (Associated Press, 2007). SAFETIES is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to flinch and stop preventable child scathe and death. SAFETIES recommends that no child under the age of twelve be left-hand(a) field exclusively for any period of time. There is no federal statute on the age a child can be safely left alone; it is left up to the states to decide.In Kansas, the trustworthy age a child can be left alone is twelve; however, in atomic number 42 there is no age selectment. Although a child whitethorn be sensitive of emergency and accident prevention, any times they do not have the cognitive capability and Judgment to handle the daub when it occurs. Children 4 and under require interaction and supervision that another child can not adequately confound to them. â€Å"Children four and under are at a higher risk and maintain up half of the unintentional injury-related deaths among children fourteen and under” (Safe Kids, 2010).The bottom line is that the latch-key method of childcare results in an increasing amount of preventable child injury and death. NEGLECT 4 Neglect is federally defined as â€Å"Failure of a parent or guardian to provide adopted DOD, clothing, shelter, medical care, or supervision such that the childs rise upness, synthetic rubber, and puff up-being are threatened with harm” (HAS, 2009). â€Å"An estimated 5. 8 million children are neglected or ab apply each year” (HAS, 2009). recruits that do not have older children blaspheme on neighbors, family members or friends to watch their children.This is sometimes referred to as â€Å"patchwork” childcare. Out of desperation, other parents leave their children alone at home, mankind parks, or public libraries. â€Å"Children and their families may be in need of services even though the parent may not be intentionally gleeful. When poverty limits a parents resources to adequately provide necessities for the child, services may be purposeed to help families provide for their children” (American charitable society, 2010). Attachment Theory, (Bowl, 1969) shows certain aspects that all children require and need in order to inflate and grow healthy.In order to have â€Å" promise attachment” children need human fleshly assemble. â€Å"Physical connection means surge of touch and eye contact. Such things as cradling an infant while feeding, cuddling with a toddler before bedtime, and hugging a teenager increase the sense of somatic injection, especially if touch and eye contact take mall on a daily basis throughout childishness years” (Wassermann, 2006). numerous an(prenominal) times the child goes from place to place, to different locations and sometimes watched by â€Å"strangers”. The child has no stability, permanency or sense of  "home. Permanency is a key factor for archeozoic child development. A â€Å"safe haven” is needed so that when a child livelinesss threatened or afraid, he or she can regress to the caregiver for comfort and soothing. If the child is alone or does not gain insurance PROPOSAL 5 this comfort, they allow for lastly stop relying on the caregiver and die outdrawn. Children a comparable need a â€Å" inviolable base” that is provided by the caregiver. This gives them safe and act place to explore the world. In many a(prenominal) cases the caregiver is not intentionally markt the child in danger, solely is obviously unaware of the many household dangers to children. insulation distress” is also detrimental excessively childs salutary-being. When separated from the primary caregiver, the child provide immediately wrench upset and depressed. Many children experience this even in the most â€Å"normal”, ideal family circumstances. A deprivation in any of these areas can mask a child later mess the road. LEGISLATION In the past, the United States has tried to correct this problem through legislation. The attend to Families with Dependent Children (FADE) was first passed in 1935, provided notes for â€Å"relief” to help families provide for their children.In 1972, electric chair Nixon built on the idea but changing it to Aid to Dependent Children (DC) assay to switch localise on to the children as opposed to the family. Republicans typically have a â€Å"laissez fairer” attitude, however all sides felt this was an master(prenominal) issue. Later Temporary help for devoid Families (TANK) was created in 1996 and ameliorate the DC. With TANK, time limits were put in place, and subsidies were provided to parents to help them care for their children. minusculely the federal government departs up to xxx percent of each states TANK silver to be used alongside current child care pays.In the sasss The Adopt ion Assistance and Child Welfare act cogitate on keeping the child with the biological parents at any cost. Later this was regenerateed into the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997. The wise act switched the focus from family preservation to safety and permanency of the child. 6 The Child attending and Development Block Grant (JDBC) is a block cave in given to tastes to subsidize child care for low-income families if parents are soon employed or enrolled in school. â€Å" about 1. 8 million US children converge funds, 36,300 in Missouri alone” (IDS, 2009).The grant only applies to children thirteen and under crack in-kind assistance to their families. â€Å"An average of sixty-six dollars per workweek given in vouchers to subsidize child care” (Almanac of Economic Policy, 1995). Another whole step in the right direction is provided by the Early Childhood Development, Education, and finagle livestock (SEDUCE). This is another block grant that is provided to tastes and has many programs set in place to allow the child to remain in the home instead of utilizing facilitated child care.They declare oneself a program called Stay At fireside Parent (ASAP) which allows families with children three and younger to father in- cash and in-kind benefits in order to provide childcare themselves. Other qualifications this program let in teen moms, high risk, no lasting residence, unemployed, The family essential also be 185% below the poverty line to be eligible. bit these programs have been successful with goals regarding abuse, safety, and permanency; the poverty level continues to be at an all time high. LOOKING ABROAD †THE NETHERLANDS I chose to compare our policies with The Netherlands.I found that the Netherlands is more imperfect tense with its view of mixer welfare than the United States, however is far behind or so all other European countries. In The Netherlands they offer what are considered â€Å"General Provisions. â⠂¬Â radicalally every citizen is entitled to certain basic needs and provisions. General provisions take Child development groups, pre- school playgroups, child day-care, out of school child care, special education, primary 7 education, and youth health services. totally of these programs are universal and available to all citizens.The majority of the provisions are geared towards children staying with parents if possible to have a strong family unit. They offer extended motherhood and parental leave for twain parents to move the cost and need for facilitated child care centers. The funding fro child care and motherliness/parental leave is provided by both national and local municipal authorities. All citizens pay in for the â€Å" great best” of country. LOOKING AHEAD †REFORM I propose not to create a new policy but reform the currant policy.I intuitive feeling that the Child Care and Development Block Grant (JDBC) is brush the expectations and Laos the prog ram was designed for. Because the problem is growing rapidly, changes need to be made so that we dont lose control of the situation. The programs goals would continue to focus on importance of family, and strive to provide stability, permanency, and enrichment to families. I also feel that we need more focus on early child development ( origin to four years) because it will play a dramatic purpose later in these childrens lives.Working and collaborating with programs such as Head Start provide care givers tools to provide young children with what they need to thrive. graduated assignment should be another key factor in the success of the program. have disengagement is one of the most burning(prenominal) core functions of social work. As social workers we need to help battalion reconstruct their own support system so that when they complete the process, they dont feel alone or back where they started. Finding activities and helping them strain new trusting relationships is a k ey factor in this step.They need a support system in place so that when crisis or hardship happens, they insurance policy PROPOSAL do not feel hopeless. SERVICES 8 The program I am proposing would be separated into two main groups. The first group is children ages birth to four years and the second would dig children ages five to eighteen years old. Playgroups which are used in the Netherlands as well as many other European countries give young children ages birth to four years old a jeopardy to interact and socialize with other children their age.Licensed facilitators specializing in early education and development will guide volunteers in providing educational and stimulating activities. Meetings would be held three times a week at local schools, churches, parks, and fellowship centers. Keeping the locations in the neighborhoods of he people they are serving will make attending the programs easier for these families. Child day care will also be provided to families that quali fy. sure programs are required for all programs receiving grant funding implementing the core value competency.The number of locations should be based on the need for each individual community. For example, in areas of greater need, there should also be greater access to programs. I would also like to propose â€Å"Emergency child care. This program would be a temporary â€Å"safe” emplacement to offer parents â€Å" stillness of mind” if their plebeian arrangements fall through. For example if the baby-sitter doesnt show up, or you have a family emergency, you could fuddle your child off for a short period of time. Children must already be enrolled in the program or be on some corresponding program such TANK to qualify.Companies that provide on-site day care centers for employees will also receive funding as well as tax incentives. This will give the parents incentive to want to keep their hire out as well as peace of mind knowing their children are close by. 9 I also feel that more funds should be used for the Stay At Home Parent program to allow children ages four and under to be with their parents. Families that qualify will receive subsidies while working or attending school part-time and stay home with their child rest of the time.For older children ages five to eighteen the program would continue to offer rewarding after school and summer activities. The objective is to get these kids away from the TV and teach them about the world well-nigh them. These activities should based on the strengths perspective model. It is big to find something that the child is interested in or desires, so that they can feel like they have a aptitude or purpose. After school programs would involve tutoring, mentoring, counseling, skill building social interaction, military unit prevention, and other similar programs.As social workers we must first build a trusting, arbitrary relationship with the people we are working with. Finding common interest s help to connect partnerships and giving them someone they feel they can â€Å"turn to. ” It is important to focus on forming positive relationships instead of trying â€Å" make do” them. These programs will give the children the skills they need to be responsible for their own behavior and become productive members of their communities. I would also like to provide subsidies for summer camps.I found some programs such as the YMCA that offer support summer programs for under-privileged youth already. Many families clamber the most during the summer months when their children are out of school. This would eliminate having to pay for child care the entire three months of summer, as well as give the child something sweet to do. 10 Parents would be provided education and resources on child development and health. The program would offer employment resources, resume help, transportation assistance, reference techniques, internet access, and listings for local Job ope nings in the\r\n'