Child Welfare Challenges in Developing Nations Myrna McNitt, ACSW Lecturer Dominican University Graduate School of Social Work International Foster Care
Child Welfare Challenges in Developing Nations Myrna McNitt,
ACSW Lecturer Dominican University Graduate School of Social Work
International Foster Care Organization Board of Trustees 1
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Aims of Session Identify the primary reasons children are left
vulnerable in the global community; Understand the UNCRC as a human
rights document protecting children; Understand the significance of
the inclusion of global content in social work education; Identify
the connection between the University and INGO: Dominican Graduate
School of Social Work and the International Foster Care
Organization The role played in working with nation states and
local authorities to protect children. 2
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Children in the World 3
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Children in USA 4
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What do you think the challenges are ?
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Vulnerability Chronic poverty Natural Disasters Pandemic health
crisis-HIV/AIDS Moving Across Borders: Refugees & Migration
Human trafficking Violence from armed conflict All forms of abuse,
neglect, family violence and maltreatment 6
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Children living in poverty Almost half of the world-3 billion
people-of them children, live on less than $2.50 a day (Shah, 2012)
Poverty is the single greatest risk factor for children. 7
www.globalissues.org/issue/2/causes-of-poverty
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Child Poverty in USA Children represent a disproportionate
share of the poor in the United States Children are 24 percent of
the total population, but 36 percent of the poor population. In
2010, 16.4 million children, or 22.0 percent, were poor. SOURCE:
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance
Coverage in the United States: 2010, Report P60, n. 238, Table B-2,
pp. 68-73. 8
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Defining Poverty-Jeffery Sachs Extreme poverty: lacking basic
needs for survival: including food, drinking water, sanitation,
health care, education and adequate shelter. Moderate poverty:
basic needs are met, but just barely. Relative poverty: household
income level well below the average national income. In high-income
countries a lack of access to entertainment & recreation, and
to quality health care, education, and other perquisites for upward
social mobility. 9
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The good news is progress in reaching Millennium Development
Goals The number of people living in extreme poverty has fallen;
Two billion people gained access to improved drinking water
sources; The share of slum dwellers in urban areas declined from 39
per cent in 2000 to 33 per cent in 2012, improving the lives of at
least 100 million people.
(http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/publications/mdg-report-2012.html)
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But Hunger remains a global challenge. Additionally, progress
has also been slow in reducing child under-nutrition, with close to
a third of children in Southern Asia deemed underweight in 2010.
(http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/publications/mdg-report-2012.html)
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A Childs View Poor people are so hungry theyve got stones where
their hearts should be, and no time to feel pity for the fates of
others. Still, Id like so much for someone here to take my hand, to
look at me with kindness. Wont anyone listen to me, for once? Its
as if I were invisible. No one sees me; Im too small for them.
Nujood Ali, Age ten and divorced p. 14
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Pandemic health: HIV/AIDS in the World Women 15 and older-15.9
million (2009) Children -2.5 million (2009) AIDS Orphans
(0-17)-16.6 million (2009) AIDS deaths - 1.8 million (2009 ) Less
than 10 % of children orphaned or made vulnerable by AIDS receive
any support; Less than 10 % of pregnant women are offered services
to prevent HIV transmission to their infants; Less than 5 % of
young HIV- positive children in need of treatment are receiving it.
(UNAIDS, 2005, Homepage) hivinsite.org/hiv?page=basics-00-04Cache
dCache d 13
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On January 12, 2010, within 40 seconds, at least 230,000
Haitians were killed: one in every 50 persons. Natural Disasters
Earthquakes-Floods-Tsunami 14
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Haiti-A Republic of NGOs More than 3,000 world's highest
density of NGOs per capita estimated 10,000 relief agencies flooded
the country in the wake of the emergency Humanitarian concern for
plight of children. Infectious diseases-2,000 with cholera in
Haiti-2010. Increase in disabled persons & orphans.
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Haiti Restaveks Child slaves make up about 10 percent of the
youth population in Haiti. Driven out of economic depravity, many
parents are sending their children to live with others and serve as
indentured servants in order to secure their survival. Source:
Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting 16
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Moving Across Borders Refugees seeking asylum Migrants seeking
economic prosperity 40 million uprooted people around the world.
Around 10 million of them are refugees www.unhcr.org Home About Us
UNHCR EventsCached - SimilarHomeAbout UsUNHCR EventsCachedSimilar
The conflict in Syria has taken a terrible humanitarian toll this
is a childrens crisis. Of the one million refugees, half are
children. Inside Syria, two million children are affected, and
800,000 are displaced. child trafficking | UNICEF FieldNotes
fieldnotes.unicefusa.org/tag/child-trafficking 17
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Syria Over 4,000 Syrian children have fled the nation without
any adult supervision, a United Nations agency said, stressing that
children are extremely vulnerable to abuse and exploitation when
they do not have a chaperone. Source Russia Today 18
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War & Conflict Child soldiers Child victims of trafficking
for labor and sex trade Children born from rape Photo stories: UN
news in pictures | Human Trafficking
www.un.org/apps/news/photostories_detail.asp?PsID=39 Across the
world there are approximately 250,000 to 300,000 child soldiers.
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Incidence of sexual exploitation Approximately 80% of human
trafficking victims are women and girls and up to 50% are minors.
U.S. State Department 600,000 800,000 people are bought and sold
across international borders each year; 50% are children, most are
female. The majority of these victims are forced into the
commercial sex trade. U.S. Department of State, 2004, Trafficking
in Persons Report, Washington, D.C. 27 million men, women, and
children are trafficking victims at any given time. Tip Report 2012
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THE 2013 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP) REPORT It ought to
concern every person, because its a debasement of our common
humanity. It ought to concern every community, because it tears at
the social fabric. It ought to concern every business, because it
distorts markets. It ought to concern every nation, because it
endangers public health and fuels violence and organized crime. Im
talking about the injustice, the outrage, of human trafficking,
which must be called by its true name modern slavery. President
Barack Obama September 25, 2012 21
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Abuse, Neglect, Maltreatment According to the International
Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect the
definition of child abuse and neglect is: Child abuse or
maltreatment constitutes all forms of physical and/or emotional
ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or
commercial or other exploitation, resulting in actual or potential
harm to the childs health, survival, development or dignity in the
context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power.
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The U.N. has proclaimed domestic violence a universal problem
that must be universally condemned. Convention on Eliminating all
forms of Discrimination Against Women-CEDA 23
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DV: The Problem Worldwide statistics on domestic violence,
affecting about 1 billion women who have been beaten, coerced into
sex or otherwise abused by an intimate partner, National Network to
End Domestic Violence-Washington D.C Some of these women are
mothers, child brides and powerless to arranged marriages-it is
part of the complex understanding of violence and trauma for
children and women around the globe. 24
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Child Safety in Times of Civil Unrest Children living in areas
of conflict are not always safe with those who come to give aid. A
British NGO, reported that humanitarian aid workers and peace
keeping forces were abusing children as young as six. Interviews
with children in the Ivory Coast, Southern Sudan and Haiti found
disturbing facts. 25
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What did the children tell us? Children interviewed highlighted
many different types of abuse: trading food for sex, rape, child
prostitution, pornography, indecent sexual assault and trafficking
of children for sex. Children state that fear of retribution from
the adults by way of withholding aid as the reason for not
reporting abuse by aid workers (Save the Children 2008). 26
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93 million children between 0-14 experience a moderate to
severe disability (Global Burden of Disease. 2011 ) 27
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93 million children between 0-14 experience moderate to severe
disabilities (Global Burden of Disease 2011 ) Of this group many
are: Confined in institutional care Real or social orphans as
caregivers were killed in earthquakes, floods and they were injured
Suffer from AIDs, losing parents with AIDs Refugees,
migrants-injured in course of leaving home Child soldiers forced
into war or into army Children born with specific disabilities
Children who become disabled due to accidents or other illnesses
28
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Orphans Around 163 million in world: This data reflects the
number of children who have lost one or both parents due to any
cause. The estimate for fully orphaned children (having no parental
care at all) is placed at 18.52 million worldwide. Source: These
numbers are based on Orphan Estimates published by the United
Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) in 2009. 29
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Children in Need of Alternative Care The UN reports more than 8
million children live in institutional care (Pinherio, 2006)
30
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Context of Social Work Education Prepare social workers to
recognize the global context of social work practice. (CSWE, 2001)
internationalizing social work programs. (Gatenio Gabel &
Healy, 2013, p.629) 31
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Globalization in Social Work A Definition The diffusion of
social, cultural, and political ideas. (Wilson, 2002, p.16) 32
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IASSW & IFSW Principles of human rights and social justice
are fundamental to social work. 33
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Across Boarders The learning environment is thus clearly no
longer limited to a local contextstudents can now be linked to
learning opportunities that are truly global.the ability to
exchange different instructional methodologies, practice knowledge,
skills, and values will not only benefit the students and faculty
but also future clients, organizations, and communities.
(Rautenbach and Black-Hughes, 2013, p. 813) 34
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Women and Children: What is Social Work? From the Favelas:
Chile A place to dance. A place to read and study. From Kenya Do
you want to see me do Ballet? 35
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Joining Up: Globalization & Technology Social work practice
is no longer separated by borders Technology is means to cross
borders It allows partnerships to advance practice Universities
INGOs Local NGOS and Authorities 36
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IFCOs Response Every society at every time must make some
provision for its children in need. (Laird & Hartman, 1985) The
International Foster Care Organization is on the ground influencing
policy and practice addressing the challenges. 37
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International Foster Care Organization Promotes best practice,
public policy (UNCRC) and understands social conditions whereby
children are made vulnerable. 38
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The International Foster Care Organizations Work Founded in
1979-response to international year of child; Registered as a UK
charity in 1981; Works with a voluntary16 member international
board of trustees with 3 members representing youth participation.
Promotes full social inclusion-UNCRC/Guidelines Transfer of
knowledge through training; Exchanges information- conferences,
website, newsletters; Links stakeholders- Networks; Development
& Project work promoting UNCRC & Alternative Guidelines at
local and national level; Partners with and advises high level
workgroups.
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43 Source UNHCR: Refugee Camp Iraq
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Dominican University Caribbean, Central & Latin America
Haiti Mexico Guatemala Ecuador Nicaragua Africa Rwanda Ethiopia
Kenya South Africa Ghana Pacific Rim Philippines Australia India
Europe Latvia Ireland Romania 44
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Built on Collaborations DU GSSW Practice Wisdom & Tools MSW
Student IFCO Networks 45
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46 IFCOs Networks
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The Relationship Resources from GSSW, IFCO, NGOs-Local
Authorities Field Placement GSSW- organizational member Faculty
Experts for IFCO IFCO GSSW- recruited students to a program with
global focus University 47
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Students engage with faculty and supervisors for learning The
introduction of the story is grounded in cultural humility
Reflection Self-examination Transformation Taking time to put the
pieces together. 48
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Students confront the injustice of privilege The Global North
vs. the Global South 49
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The Placement International social work education can
facilitate the sharing of locally relevant practices with
internationally recognized theory and practice. This allows social
workers to crystallize their wisdom (Yip, 2005, p. 603) from the
local culture while integrating practice from Western countries.
This creates an opportunity for a rich and broad perspective in
social work practice. Same, Same - But Different: The Development
of Cultural Humility...
www.ijhssnet.com/journals/Vol_2_No_17_September.../3.pdf 50
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Confronting Injustice Dominican University & IFCO Shared
value of social justice Each looks beyond borders 51
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Shared Value 52
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United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child-A Legally
Binding Instrument Promotes a full range of human rightscivil,
cultural, economic, political and social rights. Includes 54
articles and three Optional Protocols. Spells out the basic human
rights for children 53
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United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child-A Legally
Binding Instrument It spells out the basic human rights that
children: the right to survival; to develop to the fullest; to
protection from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation; and to
participate fully in family, cultural and social life.
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The four core principles are non-discrimination; devotion to
the best interests of the child; the right to life, survival and
development; and respect for the views of the child. 55
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Values At its heart is human dignity and harmonious development
of every child. Protects children's rights by setting standards in
health care; education; and legal, civil and social services.
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UN Guidelines for Alternative Care It focuses on two main
aspects: To ensure that children do not find themselves placed in
alternative care unnecessarily; Where out-of-home care is provided,
it is provided in appropriate conditions and of a type that
responds to the child's rights, needs and best interests.
(International Social Service, 2010) 57
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New Protocol The UN General Assembly has taken a remarkable
historical step forward for the protection of childrens rights by
adopting the Optional Protocol (OP) to the Convention on the Rights
of the Child (CRC) on a complaints mechanism for childrens rights
violations.
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What can it do? It will enable children who are victims of
abuses and violations of their rights to submit complaints to the
Committee on the Rights of the Child.
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Makes Vulnerable Children Visible child soldiers in Africa
children from minority groups who are discriminated against in
Europe, children who are forced into sexual exploitation, those who
are denied a fundamental right such as health or education thus
breaking the silence around these violations and forcing States to
take responsibility for children.
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Progress Despite its over thirty year history of the
Convention, gross inequity exists for children in developing
nations. 61
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Still the Goal Cantwell (2005) sums up the UNCRC by stating:
Family-based solutions are generally preferable to institutional
placements. National (domestic) solutions are generally preferable
to those involving another country. Permanent solutions are
generally preferable to inherently temporary ones. Alternative care
should have a range of options. (Cantwell, 2005 p.4) 62
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What does this mean? The global community needs to ensure that
nation states enact appropriate child protection policy and
practice standards -UNCRC Behave as responsible corporate parents
Give children the opportunity to live in a family with connection
to community. 63
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Respect for Culture Child rearing is culture bound. Certainly
the human right to take part in a persons culture has the same
importance as any other human right. However, the human right of
culture does not validate practices that clearly cause physical,
severe emotional or other harm to another (Reichert, 2006, p. 33).
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Respect for Culture Child rearing is culture bound. Certainly
the human right to take part in a persons culture has the same
importance as any other human right. However, the human right of
culture does not validate practices that clearly cause physical,
severe emotional or other harm to another (Reichert, 2006, p. 33).
65
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Achieving the Balance GSSW and IFCO must consider the balance
of culture and human rights when promoting foster care for children
with differing life experiences and traditions. 66
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The Partnership: The Need & Urgency Urges nations
considered to be third world or emerging to develop comprehensive
child friendly policies. This is a slow process and even in
developed nations improvements are often slow in coming. Offers its
help and expertise to assist in this process 67
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Build Families-Not Orphanages IFCOs Make Baby Homes History
Campaign in Eastern Europe Children are our future and this new
policy is all about putting children first and providing the best
environment to give them every opportunity to develop and
eventually take their rightful place in adult life. Stela
Grigoras-Every Child Moldova, former IFCO President 68
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Professors Villarreal Sosa and McNitt, working for IFCO
Reviewing Policy with Ministry of Education in Azerbaijan 69
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And Ecuador, Latin America Imagine you are a social worker and
see a child without legsand then with international collaboration
and teamwork you are able to see him ride away on a special
trikehow would you feel? Pablito gains independence! 70
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In Kosovo: Confront Ethics of Care
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Looking Forward India South Africa Ethiopia Every Child Russia
SOS Childrens Villages Ivory Coast Czech Republic Hungry 72
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Raising a child is a community and cultural issue, not a
private issue (Dr. David Wolfe, Nov. 6, 1996) We all share
responsibility for the well-being, the care and the nurturing of
children in our communities. 73
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Social Justice in Social Work calls for Global Citizenship .
Global Citizenship is more than the sum of its parts It goes beyond
simply knowing that we are citizens of the globe to an
acknowledgement of our responsibilities both to each other and to
the Earth itself. ..is about understanding the need to tackle
injustice and inequality, and having the desire and ability to work
actively to do so. ..Global Citizenship is a way of thinking and
behaving. It is an outlook on life, a belief that we can make a
difference. www.oxfam.org.uk/education/gc/what_and_why 74
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As opportunities expand students are transformed to be citizens
of the world The priest gave us a book he had written called Is it
possible to forgive today GSSW student in Guatemala 75
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The Global Experience: Personal and Professional Transformation
Today my passion For International Social Work was reignited and it
Feels AWESOME!
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HOW DOES IT IMPACT US? 77
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Call to Action: Global Citizenship In a real sense, all life is
interrelated. The agony of the poor enriches the rich. We are
inevitably our brothers keeper because we are our brothers brother.
Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. 78
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Audacity to Believe I have the audacity to believe that peoples
everywhere can have: three meals a day for their bodies, education
and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality and freedom for
their spirits. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 79
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Kings Lessons from Royce Royce stated: Since you cannot find
the beloved communitycreate it. Do whatever you can to take a step
toward it, or to assist anyoneyour brother, your friend, your
neighbor, your country, mankindto take steps toward the
organization of that coming community. 80
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We are Taonga Treasures of the World Global Citizens 81
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Contacts Professor Myrna McNitt: [email protected] or
[email protected]@comcast.net [email protected]
International Foster Care Organization: www. IFCO. INFO NASW
Illinois: International Activities Network 82
