NCJ Number
151427
Journal
Journal of the Child Welfare League of America Volume: 73 Issue: 5 Dated: special issue (September/October 1994) Pages: 431-447
Date Published
1994
Length
17 pages
Annotation
The legal basis of child protective services (CPS) defines cases in which workers intervene, the scope of intervention, and the legal authority of workers to act.
Abstract
Current CPS programs have evolved primarily in response to various legislative movements. In the 1960's, laws were passed that required physicians to report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect. The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1974 linked State compliance with Federal regulations to Federal funding for child abuse programs and set national standards for child protective investigations. In 1980, the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act focused on family stability by requiring reasonable efforts to be made to maintain children in their own homes. In 1992, the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act was amended by the Child Abuse Programs, Adoption Opportunities, and Family Violence Prevention Act. Improved understanding of the legal framework and political context of CPS programs can be gained through comparative analysis. Such analysis needs to consider who is served by CPS programs; how the CPS system functions, particularly with respect to case activities and decision points, services, interdisciplinary coordination, and court intervention; and CPS outcomes. Future directions in CPS research are discussed in terms of both formative and evaluative approaches. 62 references