title: Toward a reorientation of values and practice in child welfare.
abstract: The failure of the child welfare system to adequately protect and promote the best interests of children stems from social and cultural values over-emphasizing parental rights and devaluing children. This is the result of longstanding cultural norms aided by post-modernist trends. Greater emphasis on the best interests of the child and practical measures in dependency proceedings will improve case outcomes, and indirectly contribute toward a shift in cultural values. However, only effective prevention measures aimed at enhancing the crucial role of parents will have a wide-spread effect in reducing child abuse and neglect. The enunciation of basic parental standards through parental licensure and national economic policies favoring parental commitment to children are such measures.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Onheiber
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse; D002651:Child Advocacy; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting; D010290:Parents; D012945:Social Values