In the United States, the child welfare system is a set of government services designed to protect children and encourage family stability. They are not a single entity but a collection of different organizations. In some instances and localities, such services are called Child Protective Services.

Many children come to the attention of child welfare social workers because of any of the following actions, which are often collectively termed child maltreatment:

• Neglect
• Emotional abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Physical abuse

In addition to the above list, child maltreatment occurs when a caregiver does not take adequate measures to prevent injury or allows something to happen to a child. In child welfare parlance, this is called "failure to protect".

References

1. National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information, How Does the Child Welfare System Work?, 2005, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Administration for Children and Families.

See also

• Baby hatch

Social programs

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