StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

The removal of children from their abusive home - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
This paper shall discuss the removal of children from their abusive homes, and the benefits and the negative impacts of such removal. There are various issues we face on a daily basis in relation to families and relationships. These issues often range from alcoholism, drug abuse, domestic violence, child abuse, and such other forms of abuse and violence. …
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER92.6% of users find it useful
The removal of children from their abusive home
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "The removal of children from their abusive home"

Critical Essay Introduction There are various issues we face on a daily basis in relation to families and relationships. These issues often rangefrom alcoholism, drug abuse, domestic violence, child abuse, and such other forms of abuse and violence. This paper shall discuss the removal of children from their abusive homes, and the benefits and the negative impacts of such removal. Discussion There are different ethical issues that may arise when children are taken away from their homes. In some instances, children are brought to welfare and care institutions which are overcrowded and which are often inadequately funded by the state or by private institutions (Wilson, 2006). Many of these children are often subjected to racial and other types of discrimination in social or welfare institutions. Consequently, they sometimes develop mental health problems and other emotional problems while they are under the care of social workers or while they are under temporary placement centers (Wilson, 2006). The nature of these placement centers is most often temporary, rendering the life of the child to instability and decreased permanence (Wilson, 2006). On the other hand, the removal of children from abusive households brings various benefits. Less emotional, physical, and mental abuse can be brought to these children when they are removed from their abusive homes. They would be given opportunities to physiologically, emotionally, and mentally develop into normal and well-adjusted children. On the part of the abusers, there would now also be a chance for them to deal emotionally with their issues and their problems while removed from their children or from their partners. These abusers can have access to professional help which can help them be better and parents or partners. Ultimately, professional help or rehabilitation can help the parent or the partner be reunited with his/her children or his/her partner. It helps ensure healthy and well-adjusted relationships in families and domestic relationships. In a criminology research by Kim (2005) she details the different effects or impact of removing children from their families. She mentions that the removal would initially benefit the child by taking such child away from the abuse and from the usual trauma that the child is exposed to at home. She cites authors McMahon and Clay-Warner (2002) who point out that separations “provide a more stable environment in which the child may develop secure attachments” (as quoted by Kim, 2005). Parents can also have the chance to recover from possible financial difficulties and addictions in order to consequently give them a stronger chance to reunite with their children and to reunite under more stable circumstances. Kim (2005) also mentions that there are negative consequences from removing a child from his or her family. Parental separations often cause emotional disruptions in the child’s relationship with his parents and with other family members. Children often experience “intense reactions of anxiety, loss, grief, and depression when precipitously separated from their family, even an abusive family, and placed in foster care” (Drach & Devoe, as quoted by Kim, 2005). Separations are not guaranteed to work for the child and even for the parent. In some instances, it causes the child various emotional and mental trauma which makes recovery difficult for the child and for the family in general. The child can also feel abandoned because of his separation from his parents, and the parents can often feel like failures in their own eyes (Wasserman, as quoted by Kim, 2005). In instances when the child is later returned to the parents, the child’s trust on them is often already fractured, and the parent’s confidence in his role is diminished (Moss, as cited quoted by Kim, 2005). Some authors and analysts also claim that children can sometimes perceive their removal from their parents’ care as a punishment. As a result, they tend to develop or experience lower self-esteem. The burden is often placed on society to ensure that these children get good placements. However, this cannot always be the case. Many placement services are overcrowded and severely underfunded. Since the child is removed from his parents, the question now seems to linger about – what better alternatives can be given to the child now that he is removed from such an abusive environment? Based on the above discussion, I now reach several conclusions. First and foremost, I conclude that the policy of removing a child from an abusive environment is a move which should only be done after duly considering the benefits and the negative impact that the separation may bring to a child or to a parent. In instances where such separation would bring more harm than good, other alternatives should be considered first before an outright separation may be opted for. In cases where the child would suffer more emotional and physical trauma from his exposure to the abusive family environment, then separation can be considered as the better option. Secondly, I also believe that before separations can be imposed on parents and their children, the placement services and the institutional services should first be assessed for adequacy. The premise in removing the child from an abusive environment is that the removal would be better for the child. Therefore, such ‘better’ environment should be made available in order to truly achieve the better goals for the child. Finally, I conclude that it is not ethical to remove a child from an abusive environment, only to place him in an emotionally and physiologically traumatizing environment. In instances when a ‘better’ life cannot be given in foster care to the child, then other solutions to the issue should be implemented instead. There is a semblance of truth and accuracy which can be drawn from the Department of Job and Family Services’ application of the Social Learning Theory in the implementation and planning of the policy. The Social Learning Theory explains, in not so many words, the cycle of abuse that is often seen among abused children. Since children are exposed to abuse at very early ages, they tend to apply the same practices to other children. In a sad and unfortunate way, these children think that such behavior is acceptable and is the only way to deal with similar situations. There are many documented cases of bullies in school who come from family backgrounds which are riddled with abuse, with foster care, or with some history of alcoholism or drug abuse in the family. Social scientists attest that abuse is a learned behavior; a child does not, all of a sudden, grow into an abusive parent without some sort of experience with violence or abuse. Based on this analysis alone, it is easy to understand why the Department of Jobs and Family Services used the Social Learning Theory in the implementation and planning of the policy as discussed previously. By removing the child from the abusive environment, it is now possible to break the ‘cycle of abuse’. By separating the child from abusive parents, the child can learn other ways of dealing with other children and with other people when confronted with problems or issues. Although credit may be given to the Department of Jobs and Family Services for using the Social Learning Theory to justify their policy in removing children from abusive families, I do believe in Potts & Herzberger (as quoted by Finkelman, ) when they said that the “relationship between being abused and becoming the abuser is probabilistic, not deterministic”. The cycle can be broken by the abuser and such cycle does not always manifest in abused children. I also believe that the Social Learning Theory does not only refer to removal or separation as a means of breaking the cycle of abuse. There are still other ways of breaking such cycle without causing emotional trauma to the child. Rehabilitation measures and therapy for the family may be some less drastic ways of breaking such cycle. Works Cited Finkelman, B. (1995) Child Abuse: Causes, prevention, and remedies. USA: Taylor and Francis Kim, S. (2005) No Place Called Home: Removal of Abused Children from their families. Simon Fraser University. Retrieved 13 November 2009 from www.ir.lib.sfu.ca/retrieve/696/etd1558.pdf Wilson, D. (6 September 2006) Ethical Issues in Child Welfare Services. Northwest Institute for Children and Families. Retrieved 13 November 2009 from www.depts.washington.edu/nwicf/director/pubs/ethicalissues.ppt Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“The removal of children from their abusive home Essay”, n.d.)
The removal of children from their abusive home Essay. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/sociology/1559322-the-removal-of-children-from-their-abusive-home
(The Removal of Children from Their Abusive Home Essay)
The Removal of Children from Their Abusive Home Essay. https://studentshare.org/sociology/1559322-the-removal-of-children-from-their-abusive-home.
“The Removal of Children from Their Abusive Home Essay”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/sociology/1559322-the-removal-of-children-from-their-abusive-home.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF The removal of children from their abusive home

Child Abuse Book Report/Review

This study was carried out by Robert J Flynn, School of Psychology and Centre for Research on Community Services, University of Ottawa, Hayat Ghazal, Services for Children and Adults of Prescott-Russell & Centre for Research on Community Services, University of Ottawa, Louise Legault, Child Welfare league of Canada and Center for Research on Community Services, University of Ottawa, and Susan Petricks as well as Gail Vandermeulen from Ontario Association of children's Aid Societies, in Canada....
7 Pages (1750 words) Book Report/Review

Corporal Punishment and Abuse of Children

This paper "Corporal Punishment and Abuse of children" discusses why corporal punishment should be used as a last resort and why abused children should be removed from an abusive environment.... One of the leading arguments against the implementation of corporal punishment at home is that the act embodies a kind of aggression.... Technically, child abuse is different from corporal punishment and we should be very careful about equating the two together....
9 Pages (2250 words) Assignment

Child Protection Policies

Experts have cleverly discovered that unprotected children from continuous abuse... This essay critically investigates the effects of well-planned child protection policies on the ability of children to grow up naturally and in safety in the world full Some questions are often posted when experts and professionals discuss the issue of child protection: are children truly abused or molested by their parents and guardians?... The manifestations of these abuses include: physical neglect of children that make them look dirty, uncared-for, forlorn and underfed; emotional and psychological maltreatment that make them appear disconnected from the society and their peers; physical abuse that comes from violent and irate parents and guardians who indiscriminately treat their children without respect for their rights; discrimination and constant bullying from parents that abused alcohol and other dangerous drugs; and the worst of all, sexual abuse of children and minors....
7 Pages (1750 words) Essay

Legal and Ethical Framework: Child Social Workers

It also allows such a worker the power to remove a child from the situation of danger, including separating them from their guardians, to ensure they're well being is protected.... "Legal and Ethical Framework: Child Social Workers" paper states that Child Social workers provide services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children.... nbsp; The Children's Protection Act 1993 is relevant to the duties of the Child Social worker because the provisions of this Act provide for the care and protection of children so that they can grow up in a safe environment....
10 Pages (2500 words) Assignment

Children Law and Practice

hellip; The protection of children who are in danger of abuse and neglect are compromised.... It is therefore hardly surprising that authorities are reluctant to intrude into the family home unless cases are of such severity that the protection of human rights and proof beyond a balance of probabilities can be sustained.... This paper "children Law and Practice" discusses the law as unfairly balanced in favor of parents who are wrongly suspected of child abuse....
11 Pages (2750 words) Case Study

Abused Case Analysis

The study "Abused Case Analysis" focuses on the critical analysis of the real case of Emily X abused at home and presents recommendations to help her.... Emily stated her parents punished her for doing poorly at school by beating her and withholding food from her as well.... The parents explained that they belonged to a religious group that believes children should be punished severely by beating or withholding food....
5 Pages (1250 words) Case Study

The Term Stolen Generation

According to reading (2006), the officers from welfare were tasked with removing children from their homes purely because they were aboriginal.... The paper "The Term Stolen Generation" suggests that this term has been used to refer to children of aborigine nature who were forcibly taken away from their homes.... The government adds that parental consent was a requirement before a child was taken away from their family.... The event spanned two centuries, from the 1890s to the 1970s....
9 Pages (2250 words) Essay

Policy, Legal, and Ethical Issues in Protecting Australia's Children

In relation to case 2 of Natasha and her sister Emily the relevant outcome is the need for use of efficient prevention strategies to protect the children from all sorts of sexual exploitation and abuse and the support of survivors of sexual abuse.... The initiative brought together a coalition of organizations committed to the wellbeing of children comprising of non-governmental organizations, state and territory governments and the commonwealth that vowed to work together to ensure its success....
9 Pages (2250 words) Case Study
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us