Child Welfare Research Paper

The total population of children in the United States under the age of 18, is 73,645, 111 which makes up 23% of the United States (Kids Count: Data Center). In order to protect these children, there is a system of rules which is known as the child welfare system. This system is supposed to protect the children who are considered to be neglected or abused. Each state has its own services and supply families with with they can at their own level. It depends on how rich or poor the state is. Each child has a different story but yet can relate to one another and the problem is these stories are growing. Majority of the regulations that are made are based on problems that are currently happening in the children’s life. Just like how there is preventative programs in other issues such as smoking, there needs to be more focus on preventing these issues. Children were basically known as property before the 20th century. It took quite some time for policies within the child welfare system became a concern and that children were looked at differently. While there is a number of polices that are protecting children, many people are concerned that they are not as effective as they should be. There are many issues within the child welfare system that need to be worked on.
History
During the seventeenth and eighteenth century, there were no child welfare systems but two groups of children required attention, the orphans and child of indigents. There was a set of provisions that were made during this time and thy included: Outdoor relief, Farming-out, Almshouses and indenture (McGowan, 12). During these centuries, these provisions were at a minimal level and children during that time were basically known as property, they had no