The first policy written at the federal level to address child abuse is the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, enacted in 1974. Alternatively known as “CAPTA,” the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1974 aimed to “provide funding for the prevention, identification, and treatment of child abuse and neglect” (National Low Income Housing Coalition, 2016). By doing so, CAPTA would provide the framework for children’s improved living conditions. Evidently, CAPTA has proven to be more than just a preventative policy; “Over four decades, CAPTA has progressed from responding primarily to the occurrence and effects of child maltreatment to focusing more on risk, protection, and prevention” (National Child Abuse and Neglect Training and
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Other efforts to address child welfare and uplift abused and neglected children’s living conditions have been made through the years. Essentially, the country first started off with non-governmental child protection organizations. There was no federal government involvement until a conference declared that there should be. Hence, came the Children’s Bureau, which showed that “Congress recognized for the first time that the federal government has some responsibility for the welfare of children” (National Child Abuse and Neglect Training and Publications, 2014). Later efforts date back to President FDR’s New Deal programs, and may even further be understood through the case of Mary Ellen (mentioned later in this essay). Under the New Deal, the Social Security Act of 1935 introduced the program Aid to Dependent Children (ADC). “ADC, as the name suggests, targeted relief to poor children in single parent families,” while acting as a means-tested welfare assistance program (Hansan, J.E. 2012). The passage of ADC indicated that there indeed was a problem within the institution of family, and emphasized being able to support …show more content…
Mary Ellen Wilson was a young girl whose caretaker, abused her and cut her off from interacting with the outside world. She became awkward and socially withdrawn. Her case was not properly addressed until one woman, Mrs. Wheeler made the effort to collectively obtain written evidence from neighbors stating their awareness of Mary Ellen’s conditions. Ultimately, these reports brought Mary Ellen to court and eventually saved her, later forcing society to acknowledge and legitimize child abuse (HubPages, 2015). In effect, this case was proof that children are automatically entitled to living in a humane, nurturing
Other efforts to address child welfare and uplift abused and neglected children’s living conditions have been made through the years. Essentially, the country first started off with non-governmental child protection organizations. There was no federal government involvement until a conference declared that there should be. Hence, came the Children’s Bureau, which showed that “Congress recognized for the first time that the federal government has some responsibility for the welfare of children” (National Child Abuse and Neglect Training and Publications, 2014). Later efforts date back to President FDR’s New Deal programs, and may even further be understood through the case of Mary Ellen (mentioned later in this essay). Under the New Deal, the Social Security Act of 1935 introduced the program Aid to Dependent Children (ADC). “ADC, as the name suggests, targeted relief to poor children in single parent families,” while acting as a means-tested welfare assistance program (Hansan, J.E. 2012). The passage of ADC indicated that there indeed was a problem within the institution of family, and emphasized being able to support …show more content…
Mary Ellen Wilson was a young girl whose caretaker, abused her and cut her off from interacting with the outside world. She became awkward and socially withdrawn. Her case was not properly addressed until one woman, Mrs. Wheeler made the effort to collectively obtain written evidence from neighbors stating their awareness of Mary Ellen’s conditions. Ultimately, these reports brought Mary Ellen to court and eventually saved her, later forcing society to acknowledge and legitimize child abuse (HubPages, 2015). In effect, this case was proof that children are automatically entitled to living in a humane, nurturing