Child Welfare in Chile: Learning from International Experiences to Improve Family Interventions
Poor outcomes and several complaints to the judicial system against residential services for children have triggered a deep review of the Chilean child welfare services, particularly in relation to family reunification. This paper offers strategic guidelines to improve alternative care for children...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2015-03-01
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| Series: | Social Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/4/1/219 |
| _version_ | 1818546161813815296 |
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| author | Carolina Muñoz-Guzmán Candice Fischer Enrique Chia Catherine LaBrenz |
| author_facet | Carolina Muñoz-Guzmán Candice Fischer Enrique Chia Catherine LaBrenz |
| author_sort | Carolina Muñoz-Guzmán |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Poor outcomes and several complaints to the judicial system against residential services for children have triggered a deep review of the Chilean child welfare services, particularly in relation to family reunification. This paper offers strategic guidelines to improve alternative care for children younger than six years of age, who are under protective measures. To define such guidelines, a case study was developed based on current models of residential services and foster home programs, which included local (Chile) and international evidence; also this research includes original empirical data collected through focus groups and interviews with key stakeholders of these programs in Chile and in two countries with advanced social services for children (Sweden and Italy). Findings refer to a structural need for reforming social services for Chilean children. Such reform should involve appropriate legislation to guarantee the rights of children and families; a substantial budgetary review leading to an increase in spending; and boosting professional specialization; and raising the capacity for offering integrated services. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T07:49:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5b869b67032f48019b8d45b074641b23 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0760 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T07:49:30Z |
| publishDate | 2015-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Social Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-5b869b67032f48019b8d45b074641b232022-12-22T00:32:29ZengMDPI AGSocial Sciences2076-07602015-03-014121923810.3390/socsci4010219socsci4010219Child Welfare in Chile: Learning from International Experiences to Improve Family InterventionsCarolina Muñoz-Guzmán0Candice Fischer1Enrique Chia2Catherine LaBrenz3School of Social Work, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Avda, Vicuña Mackenna 4860 Macul, Santiago 781000, ChileSchool of Psychology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Avda, Vicuña Mackenna 4860 Macul, Santiago 781000, ChileSchool of Psychology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Avda, Vicuña Mackenna 4860 Macul, Santiago 781000, ChileFundación Hogar Esperanza, Avenida Trinidad Oriente 3400 La Florida, Región Metropolitana, Santiago 4170000, ChilePoor outcomes and several complaints to the judicial system against residential services for children have triggered a deep review of the Chilean child welfare services, particularly in relation to family reunification. This paper offers strategic guidelines to improve alternative care for children younger than six years of age, who are under protective measures. To define such guidelines, a case study was developed based on current models of residential services and foster home programs, which included local (Chile) and international evidence; also this research includes original empirical data collected through focus groups and interviews with key stakeholders of these programs in Chile and in two countries with advanced social services for children (Sweden and Italy). Findings refer to a structural need for reforming social services for Chilean children. Such reform should involve appropriate legislation to guarantee the rights of children and families; a substantial budgetary review leading to an increase in spending; and boosting professional specialization; and raising the capacity for offering integrated services.http://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/4/1/219Chilean child welfarefoster careresidential carefamilyinternational experience |
| spellingShingle | Carolina Muñoz-Guzmán Candice Fischer Enrique Chia Catherine LaBrenz Child Welfare in Chile: Learning from International Experiences to Improve Family Interventions Social Sciences Chilean child welfare foster care residential care family international experience |
| title | Child Welfare in Chile: Learning from International Experiences to Improve Family Interventions |
| title_full | Child Welfare in Chile: Learning from International Experiences to Improve Family Interventions |
| title_fullStr | Child Welfare in Chile: Learning from International Experiences to Improve Family Interventions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Child Welfare in Chile: Learning from International Experiences to Improve Family Interventions |
| title_short | Child Welfare in Chile: Learning from International Experiences to Improve Family Interventions |
| title_sort | child welfare in chile learning from international experiences to improve family interventions |
| topic | Chilean child welfare foster care residential care family international experience |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/4/1/219 |
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