Freymond, Nancy & Cameron, Gary . Towards Positive Systems of Child and Family Welfare: International Comparisons of Child Protection, Family Service, and Community Caring Systems

Adolescence, Winter, 2007

FREYMOND, Nancy & CAMERON, Gary (Eds.). Towards Positive Systems of Child and Family Welfare: International Comparisons of Child Protection, Family Service, and Community Caring Systems. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2006. 360pp. $75.00 (h), $35.00 (p).

The need for services that respond to the "maltreatment" of children and to the struggles of families is at the core of social service systems in all developed nations. While these child and family welfare systems confront similar problems and incorporate common elements, there are substantial differences in philosophy, organization, and operation across international settings and models. In this collection of essays, the contributors provide an integrated discussion of child protection, family service, and community caring models of child and family welfare. The volume not only examines child protection and family service approaches within Western nations-including Canada, the United States, England, the Netherlands, France, and Sweden-it is also the first comparative study to give equal attention to Aboriginal community caring models in Canada and New Zealand. The comparisons allow for a consideration of constructive and feasible innovations in child and family welfare and contribute to an enriched debate around each system.