Summary

It is very clear that children in every country experience abuse and neglect. The descriptions of the child welfare systems in different countries in this book illustrate several common themes: the lack of clear definitions, ambiguous policies, laws not being implemented, limited data on the extent and nature of the problem, and inadequate resources for addressing child maltreatment. Challenges facing Argentina are remarkably familiar to someone in the United States. At the same time, there are also striking differences in approaches and resources. The field of child protection is relatively young; in many areas optimal policies and practice remain uncertain. The goal of this book is to promote dialogue across borders to learn from each other and advance this multifaceted field, and to better serve children and families. This book highlights some of the main themes evident in the descriptions of the different child welfare systems.