Child Welfare and Family Preservation

Child Welfare and Family Preservation
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Child Welfare and Family Preservation
The fundamental objective of family preservation in child welfare is to enhance parenting conditions, especially among families undergoing a crisis. This practice is designed with the conviction that assisting parents to solve any challenges that inhibit their parental role will make homes safer for children rather than separating them, which is often traumatic. Consequently, family preservation has been applauded for its role in protecting children from the harmful impacts of foster care, such as trauma.
For instance, Fluke et al. (2016) agree that while the foster care system helps in raising endangered children in a supportive environment, the separation period is damaging to the parent-child bond. Unless in some cases where the parents are incarcerated, family preservation ought to be prioritised for better outcomes that benefit the children and their families. Furthermore, the collaboration between caregivers and parents is more effective than when social workers shoulder the entire burden. From a personal perspective, it is evident that foster care has some adverse effects on children, which can be prevented by increasing family protection capacities.
In my state, the Department of Human Services outlines the critical steps for potential and current foster parents to ensure that adopted children get the best care. However, the last step (training) can be cited as faulty since training centres/meetings are not available in every location (DHS).

In the end, foster parents may need to rely on others for information about care, which might be misleading or outdated. Permanency planning is a long-term plan that allows caregivers to place, monitor, and improve the welfare of children. On the other hand, family preservation is short-term, and social workers spend a relatively short time with children. However, from the social worker’s perspective, family preservation is better because it empowers families to establish a supportive environment for child development. Additionally, the cooperation between professionals and families is essential for optimum outcomes.
References
Fluke, J. D., Corwin, T. W., Hollinshead, D. M., & Maher, E. J. (2016). Family preservation or child safety? Associations between child welfare workers’ experience, position, and perspectives. Children and Youth Services Review, 69, 210-218.