Affecting Change Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Affecting Change - Research Paper Example This is particularly so as a result of the high volume of reports and referrals, together with budget cuts (Waldfogel, 1998). As a result, there are many instances in which some children at high risk of maltreatment are not identified and in other cases, too much attention is turned toward children who are not at a genuine risk of abuse or neglect (Waldfogel, 1998). It has been widely suggested that community partnerships can improve CPS responsiveness and foster an environment capable of ensuring that children are safe (France & Utting, 2005). This paper investigates the feasibility of community partnerships as a method of improving the current CPS system. The first part of this paper details and analyzes the current CPS system. The second part of this paper will analyze the concept of community partnerships and demonstrates how it can improve the current CPS system and in turn improve the safety of children. Munro (2005) describes the current CPS system in Western ideology as similar to that of the functioning of a nuclear power plant. According to Munro (2005), like a nuclear power plant, the CPS system is focused on the prevention of disaster, injury and death. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, it focuses far too much attention on prevention rather than cure. However, the main problem is attributed to the fact that when errors are made and disaster, injury of death occurs, quite often humans rather than the system are blamed for the error. This focuses attention on personnel changes rather than systematic changes (Munro, 2005). A review of the literature suggests that the current CPS system is built around a rigid â€Å"investigative response to child maltreatment reports†, is â€Å"adversarial† in nature and does not does not take a holistic approach to meeting the needs of the family (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2009, p. 1). A national survey of CPS conducted by the US Department of Health and Human

Reflective paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Reflective paper - Essay Example Similarly, developments in the fields of Humanist theories, Learning theories, Cognitive theories, and behavioral theories have also opened new horizons of knowledge for the psychologists in dealing with their clients. This paper reflects on the major human development theories and analyses how far they have contributed in identifying and resolving the mental, Psychological, behavioral and physical problems of clients. To begin with, one can never undermine the contributions made by the Psycho Analytic theorists in understanding human development and problems associated with the developmental stages of clients. G. Stanley Hall, who tried to make a detailed study on Darwin’s evolutionary theory attempting to correlate childhood with previous ages of mankind, made his greatest achievement in his child centered research. His seminal book The contents of children’s minds, published in 1883, tried to resolve the history and the means of progress of mankind by the findings of what children know and when they learn it. Hall also accepted Sigmund Freud’s sexuality theory and believed that the sexualized energies of boys have to be promoted, channeled and managed. He is known as ‘the father of adolescence.’ Though his work has been considered outdated his ideas are still applicable in education, scouting and team sports. (G. Stanley Hall (1844-1924)). Similarly, psychologi sts draw conclusions from Hall’s theories have which facilitated in identifying adolescent problems and in treating them. Hall’s theories are widely applied in the field of special education and they have proved to be highly beneficial in offering â€Å"individualized services for adolescents in grades 6-12 who have experienced depression, withdrawal, low self-esteem, socialization problems, learning disabilities, post traumatic stress disorder, or self-injurious behaviors† (G. Stanley Hall School). The term psycho analytic theory is originated with study of the great psychologist