ROLE OF THE CHILD PROTECTIVE ORGANIZATION

A Review of recent literature and press pronouncements has no doubt left many confused about what degree of concern should be channeled into the problem of the abused child. Part of the confusion results from a tendency to resort to the numbers game in trying to highlight the critical child welfare problems that face this nation, state, and city. Rather than wonder which numbers to believe, or whether physical and emotional battering of children is increasing, I think that the abuse and neglect of children in New York City is of such significant proportions as to justify our dedicated concern. For some years there has been a specialized approach to the problems of the neglected and abused child. This specialized approach has been termed child protective services. It has been developed in response to the problems of abused and neglected children, which the community feels must be looked into and treated. The Child Welfare League defines protective service as "A specialized child welfare service which carries a delegated responsibility to offer help on behalf of any child considered or found to be neglected." The New York State Department of Social Services defines protective services as "Those provided to children living in their own homes who are seriously neglected, abused, or subjected to demoralizing circumstances by their parents or others responsible for their care." Child protective service is not a new service. It has a very illustrious history that really started in this city, back in the late 1800s, through the development of the Society for the Prevention of the Cruelty to Children.