Russian Roulette: The Deadly Game the United States Child Welfare System Plays

Abstract

This research looks at the efficiency and effectiveness of the United States Child Welfare System. Specifically, it focuses on the lack of standardization in the system as well as the relationship between the two main institutions involved in the system—Child Protective Services and the Juvenile Court System. The research consisted of a thorough analysis of current literature on the state of the child welfare system, trying to fill a gap in the current pool of knowledge on the subject. In order to fill this gap, the research draws upon the history of the child welfare system, highlighting the transformative years, cites statistics concerning child abuse and neglect, and provides a detailed analysis and solution to two of the most pressing problems.