Essay Sample on CAPTA: Defining Child Abuse & Neglect to Receive Federal Funds

Introduction

Basing on the child abuse and treatment act of 1974 (CAPTA), child's physical abuse, sexual abuse and neglect have minimal standards that define them for the nation to meet to receive federal funds (Gelles, 2017). The act provides for the investigation, assessment, prosecution, treatment and prevention of children by providing the nation with federal funds (Weatherred, 2015). On the other hand, the act provides the federal role in identifying and supporting technical activities, data collection, research and evaluation as a whole. Therefore, the act is vital in the lives of children. Upholding the act is therefore essential as far as the children's life is concerned. The act dramatically helps in supporting the safety of children.

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The future state is made up of children. Children's are the next generation that will be mandated to lead and make sure the nation is running well. Through the implementation of the Child Abuse and Treatment Act, together with social policies that prevent children from being sexual of physically abused or neglected, the nation will have healthy children who hold future crucial roles as far as the smooth running of the state is concerned (Malousek, 2016). The act provides for the reporting of any case of child mistreatment. This is important since it allows for a channel to figure out how the children are being treated hence ensuring that children are not being mistreated in any way. It also enlightens on the concerned organizations in areas where children are most abused and how to overcome. Also, the act mandates education for the workers who are obligated to prevent and safeguard children's rights from being violated.

Among the social policies set in safeguarding children is mandatory reporting (Yang, 2016). This policy began in the US in the early 1960s, which mandated the reporting of any child abuse and neglect (Yang, 2016). There were specific people employed to ensure that the cases are reported to help in combating them. Apart from employed individuals, teachers, parents and guardians were also advised to report child abuse and neglect cases to safeguard the lives of individuals. This policy is vital since it helps to trace precisely how most of the children are being mistreated and where. On finding the criminals helps in punishing them hence putting the lives of children safe. The policy should not be undermined.

Another vital policy that highly helps in mitigating child abuse and neglect is setting legal standards for substantiating Child Abuse and Neglect (McGowan, 2017). Here, it is reinforced that whenever there is a reported case concerning child abuse and neglect, there must be thorough research and verification. The research should be done timely at least within 72 hours of reporting (McGowan, 2017). This highly results in prudent results and evidence. For instance, when the child is sexually abused, he or she will be able to be tested and identified if he or she have been infected with HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases hence treating them earlier. On the other hand, criminal sentencing is also vital in mitigating cases related to child abuse and neglect (Fortson, 2016). It creates fear of being sentenced hence reducing child abuse and neglect.

Conclusion

In summary, Child Treatment Act is essential in the lives of children. To safeguard the lives of children from either being physically or sexually abused or neglected, impressing the act entirely is vital. On the other hand, social policies also play essential roles in preventing children from being physically and sexually abused or being neglected. Therefore, mandatory reporting, setting legal standards for substantiating Child Abuse and Neglect and criminal sentencing are vital social policies that help in combating sexual and physical abuse or neglect among children.

References

Fortson, B. L., Klevens, J., Merrick, M. T., Gilbert, L. K., & Alexander, S. P. (2016). Preventing child abuse and neglect: A special package for policy, norm, and programmatic activities.

Gelles, R. J. (2017). What to learn from cross-cultural and historical research on child abuse and neglect: An overview. Child Abuse and Neglect: Biosocial Dimensions-Foundations of Human Behavior. Oxon: Routledge.

Malousek, J. R., ColburnMalousek, L. K., & Brown, K. S. (2016). Child Abuse in the United States. Encyclopedia of Family Studies, 1-7.

McGowan, B. G. (2017). Family-based services and public policy: Context and implications. In Reaching high-risk families (pp. 65-88). Routledge.

Weatherred, J. L. (2015). Child sexual abuse and the media: A literature review. Journal of child sexual abuse, 24(1), 16-34.

Yang, J. L., & Ortega, D. (2016). Bureaucratic neglect and oppression in child welfare: historical precedent and implications for current practice. Child and adolescent social work journal, 33(6), 513-521.