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SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE WITH CHILDREN

Article in International Journal of Current Advanced Research · June 2023

DOI: 10.24327/ijcar.2017.5333.0699

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International Journal of Current Advanced Research
ISSN: O: 2319-6475, ISSN: P: 2319-6505, Impact Factor: SJIF: 5.995
Available Online at [Link]
Volume 6; Issue 8; August 2017; Page No. 5324-5333
DOI: [Link]
Research Article
SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE WITH CHILDREN
Jasmine Sarah Alexander*
Department of Social Work, Loyola College of Social Sciences, Trivandrum
ART ICLE INFO AB STRACT

Article History: This article describes the current child rights scenario in India and comprehensively lists
the interventions of social workers with children. It talks about the target population,
Received 19th May, 2017 objectives, knowledge and interventions required for practice within the Child Rights
Received in revised form 5th domain. Five areas of practice have been particularly identified and described: Child
June, 2017 Accepted 16th July, 2017 Survival and Development, Child Protection, Child Participation, Adoption and Foster Care
Published online 28th August, 2017 and School Social Work. Thus this article hopes to be a resource for anyone who hopes to
work with children.
Key words:
Child Social Work, Child Participation,
Adoption, School Social Work

Copyright©2017 Jasmine Sarah Alexander. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which
permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

INTRODUCTION recognized that children have human rights too. According to

Child Rights Convention, a Child means every human being
One of the primary domains of social work practice is Child below the age of eighteen years unless the law applicable to
Social Work. This article attempts to provide all the necessary the child, majority is attained earlier. All people under the age
information to professional social workers and other social of 18 are entitled to the standards and rights, called Child
welfare workers who aspire to work with and who are Rights, which are guaranteed by the laws that govern a
working with children. This article is based on the results of country and the international legal instruments the country has
two major research projects which attempted to study 20 accepted by ratifying them.
social work practice settings in India through case studies of
about 100 organizations and interviews with over 200 social The CRC sets out these rights in 54 articles and two Optional
work practitioners (Joseph and Alexander, 2012, 2015). Protocols and is built on the principle that "All children are
born with fundamental freedoms and all human beings have
The article begins by introducing Child Rights and the Child some inherent rights". The Charter confers the following basic
Rights Situation in India. Then the article goes on to rights on all children across the world:
describe the target population, objectives and knowledge base
of the child social work domain. It then details social work  the right to survival - to life, health, nutrition, name and
practice with children as it happens in the five major sub- nationality
domains of the child setting, namely: Child Survival and  the right to development - to education, care, leisure,
Development, Child Protection, Child Participation, Adoption recreation
and Foster Care and School Social Work.  the right to protection - from exploitation, abuse,
neglect
Child Rights and the Child Rights Situation in India
 the right to participation - to expression, information,
Child Rights and the Child Rights Commission thought and religion
Social Work with Children can be understood more clearly The State of Children in India
under the Child Rights perspective. The Convention on the
Children constitute principle assets of any country. India is
Rights of the Child (CRC) is the first legally binding
home to almost 19 percent of the world's children. More than
international instrument to incorporate the full range of
one third of the country's population, around 440 million, is
human rights-civil, cultural, economic, political and social
below 18 years. State of World’s Children Report 2012 (UN,
rights. In 1989, world leaders decided that children needed a
2012), the incidence of crimes against children in India
special convention just for them because people under 18
(NCRB 2015), a Study on Child Abuse (MWCD 2007) and 2
*Corresponding author: Jasmine Sarah Alexander NIPCCD Studies have been quoted to highlight the Child
Department of need
Socialspecial
Work,care
Loyola Rights Situation in India.
years old often and College of Social
protection that adults do
Sciences,
not. The Trivandrum
leaders also wanted to make sure that the world
 International Journal of Current Advanced Research Vol 6, Issue 08, pp 5324-5333, August 2017

According to one assumption 40 percent of these children are and services under the Juvenile Justice Act. The main thing
in need of care and protection, which indicates the extent of was to assess adequacy of infrastructure vis-à-vis standards
the problem. According to United Nations (UN) Statistics, prescribed in the act and rules framed under the Act by
India is considered to be among one of the most dangerous respective states. Data was collected from 25 states and one
places for children. The State of the World’s Children Report UT out of 35 States. Out of a total of 1135 children homes
2012 revealed that India is the most dangerous place for a created under the Juvenile Justice Act, 69.25% were covered.
baby girl because of the rate of female foeticide/infanticide. Besides that observation homes, after care homes and special
India is now ranked among the 50 nations with highest under- homes were also covered under this study.
five child mortality rate. Twenty-eight per cent of infants in
 The finding indicates that a substantial number of
India have low birth weight and 48 per cent under the age of
children’s institutions were having classrooms,
five are stunted. According to international child right group
dormitories, kitchens, and recreational rooms etc as per
Save the Children, Two million children below the age of five
die every year in India, giving it the dubious distinction of the norms in rules of JJ Act.
being the country with the highest number of such deaths.  Shishu greh and other homes were more crowded in
terms of lack of space in dormitories, classrooms,
In 2015, 94175 crimes were recorded against children in India recreation rooms, number of toilets and bathrooms were
under the following categories: Murder, attempt to commit found to be inadequate and not as per the norms.
murder, infanticide, rape, assault on girls with intent to  Most of the homes engaged medical doctors on part
outrage modesty, insult to modesty of girl child, kidnapping time/ contract basis and around 80 percent homes were
and abduction, foeticide, abetment of suicide, exposure & having Para-medical staff.
abandonment, prostitution related crimes, child marriage,  Age structure of inmates on different homes was
child labour, organ trade etc (NCRB, 2015). A Study on Child observed to be young as 57 percent children were
Abuse 2007 conducted by Ministry of Women and Child between age-group 6 to14 yrs and about one – third
development reveals the following facts about Child abuse in children were from the age group 14-18 years.
India. (Box 1). NIPCCD Website presents the following facts  Maximum number of 18 children was staying up to 3
and figures about the State of Children in India (Box 2). years as compared to 3-5 years and more than 5 years.
Box 1 Child Abuse in India (MWCD, 2007)
Emotional Abuse and Girl
Physical Abuse Sexual Abuse
Child Neglect
1. 53.22% children reported having faced one or more
1. Two out of every three children were physically abused.
forms of sexual abuse.
2. Out of 69% children physically abused in 13 sample
2. Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar and Delhi reported the
states, 54.68% were boys.
highest percentage of sexual abuse among both boys
3. Over 50% children in all the 13 sample states were being
and girls. 1. Every second child reported
subjected to one or the other form of physical abuse.
3. 21.90% child respondents reported facing severe facing emotional abuse.
4. Out of those children physically abused in family
forms of sexual abuse and 50.76% other forms of 2. Equal percentage of both
situations, 88.6% were physically abused by parents.
sexual abuse. girls and boys reported
5. 65% of school going children reported facing corporal
4. Out of the child respondents, 5.69% reported being facing emotional abuse.
punishment i.e. two out of three children were victims of
sexually assaulted. 3. In 83% of the cases parents
corporal punishment.
5. Children in Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Delhi were the abusers.
6. 62% of the corporal punishment was in government and
reported the highest incidence of sexual assault. 4. 48.4% of girls wished they
municipal school.
6. Children on street, children at work and children in were boys.
7. The State of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar and Delhi
institutional care reported the highest incidence of
have almost consistently reported higher rates of abuse in
sexual assault.
all forms as compared to other states.
7. 50% abuses are persons known to the child or in a
8. Most children did not report the matter to anyone.
position of trust and responsibility.
9. 50.2% children worked seven days a week.
8. Most children did not report the matter to anyone.

NIPCCD Website presents the following facts and figures  Children were imparted vocational training in 14
about the State of Children in India: different trades at different homes. The most common
among them were electrical trade, teaching, printing
State of Children’s Institutions in India and filter job.
According to Aangan (2006), “Children’s institutions have in  It was also pointed out that lack of equipments and lack
the past been associated with mismanagement, neglect and a of space were other constraints and thus 62 percent
prison-like environment, as well as a striking lack of adult homes had shown their inability to offer vocational
guidance or constructive activity. Children exposed to high training.
levels of peer violence, showed signs of deep emotional  Children staying in different homes were suffering
distress. Naturally they would leave the institutions, ill- different types of illnesses. The most common diseases
equipped to cope, unable to reintegrate in the outside world. among children were tuberculoses and sexually
With consistent efforts by state authorities along with the transmitted diseases.
voluntary sector, the focus in recent times is very much on  The most common homes which were having television
making the homes rehabilitative and effective” and radio facilities were shelter homes, after care
NIPCCD (2010) conducted a study on Juvenile Justice homes and children homes.
Institution in India. The objectives of the assessment were to:  Cultural activities were found to be another
assess the existing status of implementation of Juvenile entertainment effort made by different homes. About 53
Justice Act and to create national database of infrastructure percent homes were organizing cultural programmes

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Social Work Practice With Children
inside the homes and 34 percent were organizing the and policies that safeguard their rights. The right to
same outside the homes. equality, protection of life and personal liberty and the
Box 2 The State of Children in India (NIPCCD, 2010)
Working Children & Street Children Juvenile Delinquents
 India has the largest child labour population in the world in terms of absolute number.  Juvenile crime has increased from 0.5%
 The magnitude of child labour varies from above 11 million to over a 100 million. in 1994 to 0.6% in 1996
 As per 1991 Census, there are 11.28 million working children in the age group 5-14 years.  Bihar, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh
 Estimates place the number of bonded child labourers at close to one million. had high incidence of juvenile crime and
 Bonded child labour is prevalent due to parent's indebtedness, poverty and unethical trade practices. accounted for 57.7% of the total crime
 Domestic child labour is the least visible and goes unaccounted. recorded in the country (1996)
 Children's earnings are consistently lower than those of adults, even where the two groups are engaged in  Rate of juvenile delinquency increased
the same task. from 0.1 (crimes per lakh of population)
 Girls out number boys in many areas of child labour. in 1994 to 1.1 in 1996
 There are about 92 million children who are neither enrolled in school nor accounted for in the labour force  Proportion of girls apprehended reached
who come under the category of ’nowhere children'. 26.3% in 1996 - the highest in the last 6
 Needs of poor should be fulfilled to a large extent to eliminate child labour. years
 Around 5 million children are living and working on the streets
 Street children are subjected to violence and abuse and are deprived of basic needs
Children with Disabilities Child Prostitution
 In India, both prevention of Childhood disabilities and protection from the  Global Trafficking of children and women is considered to be
effects of childhood disabilities are mandated as the rights of every child more profitable than arms or drugs smuggling
 One in 10 persons is suffering from one type of disability or the other  It is estimated that there are 4,00,000 child prostitutes in the
 Accurate statistics to reflect the number of children with disability in the country
country are not available  Commercial child prostitution is increasing at the rate of 8-10%
 75% of childhood disabilities can be prevented through primary health care, per annum
yet every year 1.5 to 2 million persons are added to the category of disabled  50% of all prostitutes in Maharashtra began as 'Devadasis'
due to neglect of primary prevention services  Some castes in India have traditionally accepted prostitution as
 Utilisation and reach of services during pregnancy and infancy is poor leading their profession such as the Rajnal Tribe, Dehrhar, Bedias and
to impairments Kanjars community
 One of the largest preventable causes of mental disorder is Iodine deficiency  Child victims of commercial sexual exploitation are deprived of
 Birth asphyxia is responsible for brain damage in many babies resulting in basic necessities and suffer the dangers of unwanted
disabilities such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy, mental retardation, visual defects, pregnancies, maternal mortality, torture, physical injury, mental
hearing, speech and language problems trauma and disorders, and sexually transmitted diseases
 Out of 4.5 million disabled children who should be availing school facilities,  The reasons for children being forced into prostitution include
90% are not enrolled or have dropped out of the education system. paedophilia and obscure beliefs like "Sex with virgin as cure for
STD".

A number of studies speak of the inadequate facilities and right against exploitation enshrined in Articles 14, 15,
non-friendly atmosphere for children in Children’s Homes. 16, 17, 21, 23 and 24 further reiterate India’s
Children in a shelter home suffer the effects of overcrowding, commitment to the protection, safety, security and well-
hunger, lack of running water, deficient infrastructure, health being of all its people, including children.
issues and beatings and physical torture at the hands of their  The Chapter on Directive Principles of State Policy in
caregivers, reveals a recent study conducted by NGOs in the Constitution of India enjoins that the State shall, in
Bangalore. A CHILDLINE handbook on Juvenile Justice and particular, direct its policy towards securing:
Child Protection system states that some of the negative
aspects of long term institutionalization of the child includes: 1. that the health and strength of workers, men and
Emotional deprivation, Anonymity and lack of personal women, and the tender age of children are not abused
attention, Interpersonal relationship problems, difficulty in and the citizens are not forced by economic necessity
mainstreaming and adjusting in society, segregation and to enter avocations unsuited to their age or strength
isolation in society, physical abuse and trauma, excessive 2. those children are given opportunities and facilities
routinization and regimentation, developmental delays, failure to develop in a healthy manner and in conditions of
to trust, low self-esteem, maternal deprivation and separation freedom and dignity and childhood and youth are
anxiety (Adenwalla, 2006). protected against exploitation and against moral and
material abandonment
Constitutional and Legislative Provisions for Children in 3. that the State shall endeavour to provide early
India childhood care and education to all children until
Even though the picture looks dark and sinister, India is they complete the age of six years
striving hard to make its land safe, secure and salubrious for  India’s National Policy for Children 1974 provides a
children. Given below are the initiatives taken by the framework for policy and planning for children. Moving
Government towards Child Rights Protection: towards its commitments, the Government of India
 The Constitution of India recognizes the vulnerable introduced the National Charter for Children 2003, which
position of children and their right to protection. stipulates the duties for the State and community,
Therefore, following the doctrine of protective followed by a National Plan of Action for Children in
discrimination, it guarantees in Article 15 special 2005, which ensures collective commitment and action
attention to children through necessary and special laws towards the survival, development, protection and

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 International Journal of Current Advanced Research Vol 6, Issue 08, pp 5324-5333, August 2017

participation of children by all sectors and levels of Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976; Child Marriage
government and civil society. Restraint Act, 1979; Immoral Traffic Prevention Act,
 At the World Summit for Children in 1990 India adopted 1986; Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act,
the World Declaration for Survival, Protection and 1986; Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and
Development of children. Psychotropic Substances Act, 1987; Infant Milk
 In 1992 India acceded to the United Nations Convention Substitutes, Feeding Bottles and Infant Foods (Regulation
on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), committing to take of Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 1992;
measures to ensure the survival, protection, participation National Guidelines on Infant and Young Child Feeding;
and development of its children. Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and
 The Government of India ratified the Hague Convention Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994; Persons with
on Inter-country Adoption, 1993 Disabilities (Equal Protection of Rights and Full
 India has also signed the SAARC Convention on Participation) Act, 2000; Juvenile Justice (Care and
Combating Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation Protection of Children) Act, 2000; National Policy on
of Women and Children, 2002 , the SAARC Convention on Education, 1986; National Policy on Child Labour, 1987;
Regional Arrangements for the Promotion of Child Welfare National Nutrition Policy, 1993; National Health Policy,
in South Asia, 2002 and is signatory to the SAARC Decade 2002; National Charter for Children, 2004; and National
on the Rights of the Child 2001-2010, decided in Rawalpindi Plan of Action for Children, 2005, which ensures collective
Resolution on Children in South Asia in 1996. commitment and action for the survival, development,
 Additionally, India ratified the Optional Protocols on the protection and participation of children by all sectors and
Use of Children in Armed Conflict and the Sale of Children, levels of government and civil society; Right to Education
Child Prostitution, and Child Pornography in 2005. (RTE) Act 2009; The Juvenile Justice (Care and
 It also reaffirmed its commitment to children by adopting Protection of Children) Act 2000; The Juvenile Justice (Care
the Millennium Development Goals and a World Fit for and Protection of Children) Amendment Act 2006; The
Children. Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules
 Several major policies and legislations have been announced 2007; The Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act,
and implemented in the country so far to ensure children’s 2005 and Amendment 2006; National Commission for
protection and improvement in their status including the protection of Child Rights Rules,2006; The Prohibition of
Guardianship and Wards Act, 1890; The Child Marriage Child Marriage Act, 2006; Protection of Children from
Restraint Act, 1929, Factories Act, 1954; Hindu Adoption Sexual Offences Bill,2011; and the Amendment Proposed in
and Maintenance Act, 1956; Probation of Offenders Act, Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act 1956
1958; Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959;
Orphanages and Other Charitable Homes (Supervision and Independent India has taken large strides in addressing issues like
Control) Act, 1960; Bonded child education, health and development.

Box 3 MWCD Schemes and Programmes

 The Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS: Launched on 2nd October 1975, today, ICDS Scheme represents one of
the world’s largest and most unique programmes for early childhood development. It aims to improve the nutritional and
health status of children in the age-group 0-6 years; to lay the foundation for proper psychological, physical and social
development of the child; to reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropout; to achieve
effective co-ordination of policy and implementation amongst the various departments to promote child development; and to
enhance the capability of the mother to look after the normal health and nutritional needs of the child through proper nutrition
and health education. ICDS offers the following Services: Supplementary nutrition, Immunization, Health check-up, Referral
services, Pre-school non-formal education and Nutrition & health education.
 Nutrition Programme for Adolescent Girls (NPAG)
Child Development
 Balika Samriddhi Yojana (BSY) which was launched with the objective of changing negative family and community
attitudes towards the girl child at birth and towards her mother, improving enrolment and retention of girl children in schools;
raising the age at marriage of girls and assisting the girl to undertake income generating activities.
 Kishori Shakti Yojana (KSY) seeks to empower adolescent girls, so as to enable them to take charge of their lives. It is
viewed as a holistic initiative for the development of adolescent girls. The programme through its interventions aims at
bringing about a difference in the lives of the adolescent girls. It seeks to provide them with an opportunity to realize their full
potential.
 Early Childhood Education for 3-6 Age Group Children Under the Programme of Universaliation of Elementary Education.
 Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme For the Children of Working Mothers
The Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS): The Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) is a centrally sponsored scheme
aimed at building a protective environment for children in difficult circumstances, as well as other vulnerable children, through
Government-Civil Society Partnership. ICPS brings together multiple existing child protection schemes of the Ministry under one
comprehensive umbrella, and integrates additional interventions for protecting children and preventing harm. ICPS, therefore,
would institutionalize essential services and strengthen structures, enhance capacities at all levels, create database and knowledge
base for child protection services, strengthen child protection at family and community level, ensure appropriate inter-sectoral
Child Protection
response at all levels.
 Scheme for welfare of Working Children in need of Care and Protection
 CHILDLINE Services
 UJJAWALA : A Comprehensive Scheme for Prevention of trafficking and Rescue, Rehabilitation and Re-integration of
Victims of Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation
National Awards For Child Welfare
Child Welfare National Child Awards For Exceptional Achievements
Rajiv Gandhi Manav Seva Award For Service To Children

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Social Work Practice With Children
Despite such clear commitment to child protection, children interventions with children. While some organizations
continue to remain vulnerable with the number of those specialized in work with children, in other organizations,
needing care and protection is ever increasing. Five decades children were one of the priority areas. Working with children
of planned development has indeed failed to address the entails work with a specific target population, goals and
critical issue of ‘Child Protection’. objectives and specialized knowledge base and interventions.
Government of India Programmes for Children Target Population
Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) is the The Target Population of this particular Setting are all Children,
nodal agency of the Government which undertakes activities particularly Children in need of Care and Protection, Children in
for Children in the country. MWCD works in 3 areas: Child conflict with law , Children in contact with law and any other
Development, Child Protection and Child Welfare. Its vulnerable Child. The definitions of these are given below Box 6).
The parents/Guardians or family members of such children, staff in
Schemes under each area is given above (Box 3)
institutions, teachers and other functionaries in ICDS, ICPS or any
ICPS requires special mention as it is a scheme that brings other programme for Child Rights can also be clients of a Social
together under one umbrella various services for Child Worker practicing in this setting. The parents/Guardians or family
Protection: National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child members of such children, staff in institutions, teachers and other
Development (NIPCCD), CHILDLINE India Foundation functionaries in ICDS, ICPS or any other programme for Child
Rights can also be clients of a Social Worker practicing in this
(CIF), The National Commission for Protection of Child setting.
Rights, the Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA) and
the various bodies under the Juvenile Justice Care and Goals and Objectives
Protection Act 2000. NIPCCD is also the nodal agency of In 2002 the General Assembly adopted the document entitled “A
MWCD for providing training to ICDS Functionaries through world fit for children” which professes the following Goal and
creation of tools, training programmes and monitoring and Objectives. Goal: To create a world fit for children, in which
evaluation research. The different Interventions under ICPS to sustainable human development, taking into account the best
facilitate Rehabilitation of Children are given below Box 4). interests of the child, is founded on principles of democracy,
The various bodies that form part of the ICPS Service equality, non-discrimination, peace and social justice and the
Delivery System and Supportive Services are also given
below (Box 5).
Box 4 ICPS Interventions
1. CHILDLINE India Foundation (CIF) is a voluntary organization, supported by the Ministry of Women and Child Development for running CHILDLINE
services in the country. Financial support is being provided under this scheme to CIF to carry out the nodal responsibility of expansion and monitoring of
CHILDLINE services in the country, with its headquarter in Mumbai and four regional centres at Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai. CHILDLINE provides
emergency outreach service to children in need of care and protection through 24 hours emergency phone outreach service. It also links children in need of care
and protection to long term services for rehabilitation. This programme has two models one for urban and one for rural areas. Funds for this service flow
through CIF to the CHILDLINE partners running the service.
2. Non-Institutional Rehabilitation
Adoption is a process through which a child is permanently Foster care is an arrangement whereby a child lives, Sponsorship is a supplementary
separated from biological parents because his/her parents' death usually on a temporary basis, with an extended or financial support to families to
or have been abandoned or been surrendered becomes a unrelated family member. Such an arrangement meet the educational, medical,
legitimate child of a new set of parents referred to as adoptive ensures that the biological parents do not lose any of nutritional and other needs of
parent(s) with all rights, privileges and responsibilities that are their parental rights or responsibilities. The aim is to children with a view to
attached to this relationship. All institutions should disclose eventually reunite the child with his/her own family improving the quality of their
details about children in their care and make sure those free for when the family circumstances improve and thus lives
adoption are filed and recorded with State Adoption Resource prevent institutionalization of children in difficult After Care Programmes help
Agency (SARA) and CARA, with all supporting documentation circumstances. children (Institutionalised
of authorization of such adoption from CWC. Cradle Baby Reception Centers Is a drive to children in the age group of 18 to
Open Shelters for children in Urban and Semi Urban areas prevent female infanticide, sex selective abortions. 21 years) to adapt to the society
caters to. Beggars, street and working children, rag pickers, small Cradle Baby Reception Centres have been set up and encourages them to move
vendors, street performers, orphaned, trafficked and runaway under the ICPS to receive unwanted babies. Cradle away from an institution based
children, children of migrant population, and any other Reception Centres include Specialised adoption life. It helps them to become self
particularly vulnerable group of children. These shelters are not agency in each district, Primary Health Care Centres, sufficient and gainfully engaged
meant to provide permanent residential facilities for children but Hospitals and Nursing Homes, Short Stay Homes, in productive activity.
will complement the existing institutional care facilities. Swadhar Reception Centres and Office of District
Child Protection Society (DCPS).
3. Institutional Rehabilitation
Shelter Homes are Day and night shelter facilities for a Observation Homes are Day Special Homes are Long term rehabilitation and
temporary period for Children without parental care, Runaway and night shelter facilities for a protection facilities for Children in conflict with law.
children and Migrant children temporary period for Children in Specialised services for children with special needs
Children's Homes are long term residential facility for conflict with law, who enter the such as Children affected by HIV and AIDS,
Children in need of care and protection and who have spent some Juvenile Justice System through Substance abuse, Mentally challenged and physically
time in the Shelter Homes; reach the Children's Homes through the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB). challenged children whose parents are unable to take
the Child Welfare Committee. care of them due to death or any other inability.
The various bodies that form part of the ICPS Service universality, indivisibility, interdependence and
Delivery System and Supportive Services are: interrelatedness of all human rights, including the right to
development.
Child Social Work: Target Population, Goals and
Knowledge Principles and Objectives
1. Put children first: In all actions related to children, the
As part of two major research projects, the author visited a
best interests of the child shall be a primary
number of national level organizations to study social work
consideration.

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 International Journal of Current Advanced Research Vol 6, Issue 08, pp 5324-5333, August 2017

2. Eradicate poverty: invest in children. We reaffirm our 6. Protect children from harm and exploitation: Children
vow to break the cycle of poverty within a single must be protected against any acts of violence, abuse,
generation, united in the conviction that investments in exploitation and discrimination, as well as all forms of
children and the realization of their rights are among terrorism and hostage-taking.
the most effective ways to eradicate poverty. 7. Protect children from war: Children must be protected
Immediate action must be taken to eliminate the worst from the horrors of armed conflict. Children under
forms of child labour. foreign occupation must also be protected, in
accordance with the provisions of international
humanitarian law.
Box 5 ICPS Service Delivery System
ICPS- Service Delivery Structure ICPS- Support Services
Central Project Support Unit (CPSU): This unit under the Ministry of Child Welfare Committee: The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of
Women and Child Development is headed by a Mission Director who is a children) Amendment Act, 2006 makes it mandatory to establish one Child
Joint Secretary level Officer, assisted by a team of 12 professionals. The Welfare Committee in each district as the final authority to dispose of cases
CPSU is primarily involved in a plan of action for initiating the for the care, protection, treatment, development and rehabilitation of children
implementation of ICPS in ensuring, training, sensitization and capacity in need of care and protection and to provide for their basic needs and
building at all levels, hand hold states during initial implementation of the protection of human rights. As per the JJ Act, the CWC should hold its
scheme, monitoring and evaluating the implementation among other meetings in the premises of a Children's Home. A CWC shall meet at least
functions. The unit is already functional. thrice a week and the minimum duration of a sitting should be of 4 hours. The
State Project Support Unit (SPSU) : This is headed by a programme Children's Home where the CWC is holding its proceeding shall provide
manager assisted by a team of 7 professionals and its task is to develop the support of counselor and peon on those days they are sitting. DCPS will also
plan of action for implementation of ICPS in the State, facilitate setting up of provide legal and counseling support where necessary.
required structure under ICPS, collect and compile information on status of Juvenile Justice Board: The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of
child protection in the state, carry out training, sensitization and capacity children) Amendment Act , 2006 makes it mandatory to have one Juvenile
building, monitor and evaluate implementation of ICPS in the State , amongst Justice Board in each district to deal with matters relating to juveniles in
other functions. It will report directly to the CPSU. SPSU is already conflict with law. As per the JJ Act, the JJB should hold its meetings in the
functional in many states. premises of An Observation Home. JJB shall meet on all working days of a
State Child Protection Society (SCPS): Contribute to effective week and the minimum duration of a sitting should be of 5 hours. The
implementation of child protection legislations, schemes and achievement of Observation Home where the JJB is holding its proceedings shall provide
child protection goals laid out in the National Plan of Action for Children support of counselor and peon to the JJB on those days when they are sitting.
2005 and Implementation, supervision and monitoring of ICPS and all other DCPS will also provide legal and counseling support where necessary.
child Protection Programmes at State /UT level. State Juvenile Police Unit: The JJ Act 2000, provides for setting up Special
State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA): SARA is being set up in every Juvenile Police Units (SJPU) in every district and city .All the police officers
State/ UT, and headed by the concerned Secretary of the State. Government designated as juvenile welfare officers are members of SJPU. ICPS shall
/UT Administration to promote in- country adoption and regulate inter provide for 2 social work ers in each SJPU for supporting the unit. Of the
country adoption. SARA coordinates, monitors and develops the work of two, one shall be a woman.
adoption and renders secretarial and administrative assistance to the Advisory ICPS- Other Activities
Committee on Adoption. Training, Capacity Building And Research And Documentation: Nipccd,
Adoption Coordination Agency (ACA) and Specialised Adoption Agency along with its regional centers has the nodal responsibility for training and
(SAA): The ICPS focuses on improving the adoption scenario in the country capacity building at National and Regional levels. The responsibilities of
and with this in mind, Adoption Coordination Agencies (ACA) and NIPCCD includes: a) Development of training modules and course curricula;
Specialised Adoption Agencies (SAA) have been set up . This will also b) Conducting training of trainers; c) Conducting regional level training and
facilitate non institutional care. However with time, SARA will take over the sharing of best practices; d) Linkage with Universities and Educational
functions of ACA. Institutions. Research and Documentation work will be carried out by
The Central Adoption Resource Agency(CARA), an autonomous NIPCCD and its regional centres.
organization of the Ministry of Women and Child Development functions as CHILD TRACKING SYSTEM shall be developed by the Central Project
the Central Authority in all matters concerning adoption and to implement Support Unit (CPSU). It shall be an effective system for child protection data
various provisions of the International Conventions in the matter of rights, management, reporting and monitoring of implementation of child protection
safeguards and procedures involving children who are orphaned, abandoned schemes. Two nationwide websites for tracking missing children and their
or surrendered. Keeping in view the implementation of adoption programmes, ultimate repatriation and rehabilitation shall be launched.
the role and responsibilities of CARA are being extended and ICPS will Advocacy, Public Education, Communication, Monitoring And
support to strengthen CARA so that it can play this role. Evaluation

3. Leave no child behind: Each girl and boy is born free 8. Combat HIV/AIDS: Children and their families must
and equal in dignity and rights; therefore, all forms of be protected from the devastating impact of the human
discrimination affecting children must end. immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency
4. Care for every child: Children must get the best syndrome (HIV/AIDS).
possible start in life. Their survival, protection, growth 9. Listen to children and ensure their participation:
and development in good health and with proper Children and adolescents are resourceful citizens
nutrition are the essential foundation of human capable of helping to build a better future for all. We
development. We will make concerted efforts to fight must respect their right to express themselves and to
infectious diseases, tackle major causes of malnutrition participate in all matters affecting them, in accordance
and nurture children in a safe environment that enables with their age and maturity.
them to be physically healthy, mentally alert, 10. Protect the Earth for children: We must safeguard our
emotionally secure, socially competent and able to natural environment, with its diversity of life, its
learn. beauty and its resources, all of which enhance the
5. Educate every child: All girls and boys must have quality of life, for present and future generations. We
access to and complete primary education that is free, will give every assistance to protect children and
compulsory and of good quality as a cornerstone of an minimize the impact of natural disasters and
inclusive basic education. Gender disparities in primary environmental degradation on them.
and secondary education must be eliminated.

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Social Work Practice With Children
Knowledge Base identified by the author that the Child Social Work domain
comprises of 5 sub-domains: Child Survival and
Social workers practicing with children need to be informed
Development, Child Protection, Child Participation, Adoption
about the following areas:
and Foster Care and School Social Work.
Box 6 Definitions of children in need of care and protection
A child in need of care and protection means any child who: Children in conflict with law are those who have
 Is found without a home or settled place or abode and without any ostensible means of allegedly committed some offence and require the law to
subsistence. intervene.
 Resides with a person (whether a guardian of the child or not) and such a person has Children in contact with law are those who come in
threatened to kill or injure the child and there is a reasonable likelihood of the threat being contact with law either as victims or as witness or due to
carried out, or has killed, or abused or neglected some other child or children and there is a any other circumstances. In short they may require to be
reasonable likelihood of the child in question being killed, abused or neglected by that in touch with the court and court proceedings due to
person. circumstances and situations.
 Is a mentally or physically challenged or ill child or a child suffering from some terminal Any vulnerable child includes but is not limited to
disease or incurable disease, and / or having no one to support or look after him/ her. children of potentially vulnerable families and families at
 Has a parent or guardian who is unfit or incapacitated to care for or supervise the child. risk, children of socially excluded groups like migrant
 Does not have a parent/s and no one is willing to take care of him/ her or has been families, families living in extreme poverty, socially
abandoned or is a missing child and or a run away child. disadvantaged families, families subjected to or affected
 Is being or is likely to be grossly abused, tortured or exploited for the purpose of sexual by discrimination, minorities, children infected and /or
abuse or illegal acts. affected by HIV/AIDS, orphans, child drug abusers,
children of substance abusers, child beggars, trafficked or
 Is found vulnerable and is likely to be inducted in to drug abuse or trafficking.
sexually exploited children, children of prisoners and
 Is being or is likely to be abused for unconscionable gains.
street and working children.
 Is victim of any armed conflict, civil commotion or natural calamity.

 Definition of “Child”, Child in need of Care and Child Survival and Development
Protection; Child in Conflict with law and issues about
Child Survival and Development Interventions aim at
such definition
ensuring the right to survival and the right to development of
 The Child Rights Convention 1989; United Nations
children. It includes the right to life, health, nutrition, name
Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of
and nationality, education, care, leisure and recreation. Hence
Juvenile Justice, 1985 (Beijing Rules); United Nations
under this sub-domain the interventions include 1) protecting
Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their
the health of adolescent girls who are potential mothers,
Liberty, 1990; Hague Convention on Inter-Country
pregnant women, mothers and children, especially those
Adoption 2003
below the age of 5 years, and 2) promoting the education and
 Constitutional provisions for Women and Children, care of children.
Policies and Legislation for Children and related to
Children, particularly Juvenile Justice Care and It was noted under the research study that most settings of
protection Act 2000, Juvenile Justice Care and Social Work, namely Community Development,
protection Amendment Act 2006 and the Government Environment, Health etc have direct impact on Child
Model Rules 2007. Practical implications of these Development because it seeks to eradicate poverty, promote
policies, legislations etc. health and preserve the environment for future generations. It
 CARA Guidelines Guiding Adoption of Children 2011 was also seen that in most Social Work Settings there is a
 Plan of Action for Children, Plan of Action for the Girl component for children; this indicates the priority assigned to
Child children, i.e. placing children first. Hence, whatever activity a
 CHILDLINE National Initiative for Child Protection Social Worker involves in, an impact assessment should be
(NICP) made of such activity on Children and on structures/practices
 Government of India Programmes & Schemes for that discriminate against children.
Women and Children- ICDS, ICPS etc. In addition to child-specialized settings, child survival and
 Monitoring Tools for Children’s Homes development interventions can be seen more prominently in
 Child Training and Participation Techniques general Community Development and Health Settings (E.g.
 Issues related to children: Child Development, Child Mother and Child Interventions, Immunization and Growth
Abuse; Child Psychology, Child Guidance and Monitoring Programmes for Children, Creches, Clinics etc.,
Counselling; Child Health: Maternal and Child Health, Pre-School Education etc.). The Integrated Child
nutrition, early childhood care and education, Development Scheme (ICDS) is the flagship programme of
childhood disabilities, positive mental health in the Government in Child Survival and Development.
children Programmes aimed at boosting school enrolment, improving
 UNICEF & Ministry of Women and Child the coverage and quality of schools and educational support
Development programmes also come under this category.
 WHO Child Growth Standards in ICDS, How to Child Participation
monitor and Evaluate Growth in children
 Child Tracking System; Child care and protection Child Participation is another area where a wide range of
support services interventions is possible. The UNICEF Child Participation
document, has described this domain:
Child Social Work: Practice Domains
“The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child... introduces
The objectives given above indicate the wide range of an additional dimension to the status of children by
interventions possible under Child Rights. It has been
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 International Journal of Current Advanced Research Vol 6, Issue 08, pp 5324-5333, August 2017

recognising that children are subjects of rights, rather than Child Workers Union, a Credit Union and the Child Workers
merely recipients of adult protection, and that those rights Voice. The Council has also empowered them to take legal
demand that children themselves are entitled to be heard. action when their rights have been violated. The children not
Recognition of children as subjects of rights is expressed, only plan most of their activities but also contribute materially
explicitly or implicitly, in a number of articles in the towards them. The obligation to contribute adds to the sense
of ownership of the programme and a commitment to
Convention
ensuring its success.”
Article 5 - parental provision of direction and guidance in
Other examples of Interventions that promote Child
accordance with respect for children’s evolving capacity;
Participation include:
Article 9 – non-separation of children from families without
the right to make their views known; Article 12 – the right to  Children’s Clubs and Child Parliaments,
be listened to and taken seriously; Article 13 – the right to  Children’s Summits/Forums/Congress on Issues like
freedom of expression; Article 14 – the right to freedom of Environment, Development, HIV/AIDs etc
conscience, thought and religion; Article 15 – the right to  Conferences, Meetings, Workshops etc in which
freedom of association; Article 16 – the right to privacy; children are consulted on issues that concern them
Article 17 – the right to information; Article 29 – the right to  Participative Research and Participative Projects
education that promotes respect for human rights and  Support Groups of Children in Similar Circumstances
democracy.  Peer Counsellors/Workers/Supporters or Child for
At the core is Article 12, which insists on the ‘visibility’ of Child Programmes
children in their own right. Article 12 says that:  Children on Management Council of NGOs; School
councils
1. States Parties shall assure to the child who is capable
 Establishment of boxes in which children are able to
of forming his or her own views the right to express
post their views
those views freely in all matters affecting the child,
 Child Mediators
the views of the child being given due weight in
accordance with the age and maturity of the child. One another area that has not been given much prominence in
2. For this purpose the child shall in particular be India is Parental Education for proper Care and Upbringing of
provided the opportunity to be heard in any judicial Children. A programme should be designed to target all
and administrative proceedings affecting the child, prospective parents and to educate them about successful
either directly, or through a representative or parenting for producing physically, emotionally, spiritually
appropriate body, in a manner consistent with the and socially competent children.
procedural rules of national law.
Child Protection
It is important to understand clearly what Article 12 does and
As we have seen earlier the ICPS Programme in India tries to
does not say. It does not give children the right to autonomy.
bring all Child Protection Services under a common
It does not give children the right to control over all decisions
irrespective of their implications either for themselves or Intervention. ICPS is powered by the Juvenile Justice (Care
others. It does not give children the right to ride roughshod and Protection) Act 200, its 2006 Amendment and 2007
over the rights of their parents. However, it does introduce a Rules. According to CHILDLINE Handbook on Child
Protection and Juvenile Justice System, there are
radical and profound challenge to traditional attitudes, which
Institutionalized and Non-Institutionalized Services for
assume that children should be seen and not heard.”
Children in need of Care and Protection. The institutional
An instance of Child Participation that has been cited from services are defined by the Juvenile Justice (Care and
India is given below: Protection of Children Act) 2000 are Children’s Homes,
Butterflies Programme of Street and Working Children: Shelters or Drop-in Centres and Fit Institutions, where as the
Butterflies works with around 800 children living and non-institutionalized services include Adoption, Foster Care
working on the streets of New Delhi, empowering them with and Sponsorship. The other non-institutionalized services
the skills and knowledge to protect themselves and develop as suggested by CHILDLINE are Counselling, School Social
respected and productive citizens. Its approach has centred on Work, and Community Centres etc. Hence we see that
Adoption, Foster Care and Sponsorship and School Social
the establishment of a team of street educators who build
Work are non-institutionalized services for Child Protection
trusting relationships with the children and involve them in a
range of activities such as non-formal education, saving (Adenwalla, 2006).
schemes, recreational activities and health programmes at Child Protection ensures that the rights of children,
various contact points. Children participate in planning most propounded under the CRC, are not violated. Organizations
of the activities through a Children’s Council that meets every working for child protection undertake the following
month, attended by representatives who bring issues raised by activities:
the children at each contact point. These meetings enable
children to discuss and share information, analyse various 1. Awareness and conscientization programmes on Child
social and political events and work towards collective action. Rights for general community and carers of children.
They discuss, for example, drugs, police harassment, non- 2. Creation of institutionalized and community based
systems that monitor child abuse and other child rights
payment of wages, the need for better jobs, and the problem
violations and provide services to children and their
of gambling. The Council orients the programme and gives
children the opportunity to learn the principles of democracy. carers.
A number of concrete initiatives have resulted, including a 3. Capacity building for child rights functionaries

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Social Work Practice With Children
4. Networking and linking different child rights ensuring the protection and promotion of child rights.
organizations and resources The presence of a social Worker is must in these
5. Advocacy and lobbying for child-related issues. institutions.
6. Research on children, child rights bodies, children’s 5. The Social worker assists destitute families to bring up
homes and the status of child rights protection; children by providing sponsorships and assistance
documentation of best practices and evidence based which meet various needs of the child and family.
practice. Family Counselling is also provided. This is to prevent
institutionalization of children and foster the healthy
Adoption, Foster Care and Sponsorship
development of children within their biological
The major activities undertaken by adoption/foster care families.
institutions are: 6. The Social Worker creates awareness about Child
Protection issues and is involved in Training and
1. Sponsorship: The purpose of providing sponsorship
Research related to this field.
is to enable children to grow in their own families
and prevent deinstitutionalization. Sponsorship is School Social Work
primarily provided to children for nutrition, health,
The goal of Social Work interventions in the Education
and educational purposes.
Setting is to promote supportive learning environments in
2. Adoption: Permanent rehabilitation of children into
which children can develop in a balanced manner. The aim is
families happens through adoption. Services are
not only to ensure academic excellence but make students
offered to prospective parents, adoptee parents and
socially responsible and emotionally mature individuals.
3. Foster Care: Children are temporarily rehabilitated
Keeping this objective in mind, Social Work in Educational
into foster homes.
institutes or in the field of education entails the following
4. Institutional Child Care: Children are admitted into
activities:
the Child Care institutions from different walks of
life. Abandoned, lost and destitute children, children  Counselling and Case Work Services: The Social
born out of wedlock, find their way to the shelter Worker assists individual students to resolve the
homes run by these institutions. challenges they face in their development process,
5. Community Services: The well being of children particularly in their learning environment. These
from poor families can be achieved only if the students approach the Counsellor at will or based on
families/care givers of these children are assisted. reference by parents, teachers or other authorities. The
Families, especially women are assisted in improving student may have personal, family or other issues
the health and living standards of the family. within the institution, which may be preventing
Children are also provided educational opportunities him/her from academic, emotional and social
through setting up of schools and non-formal performance. The Social Worker uses all possible
education centres in the form of tuition centres, pre- resources and means to assist the student to resolve
school education centres etc. these issues. In addition to students, the social worker
6. Family Counselling: Some organizations combine provides services to parents and staff of the institute.
family counselling activities along with adoption  Personality Development: The Social Worker
related activities. When families are in crisis it organizes a variety of activities like awareness
affects children the most. Strengthening families will programmes, lecture sessions, trainings, street plays,
lead to child welfare. Behavioural issues that theatres, group work, celebrations etc. so as to
children face are also handled by Counselling. influence positive change in the personality of students.
The Social Workers’ Role in the Adoption Setting is as The students are infused with the right values and
follows: attitudes so as to transform them into worthy people.
 Social Programmes: Students are motivated and
1. In Adoption and Foster Care, Social Workers role directed to help fellow beings in need through various
involves Pre and Post Adoption Assessment and social welfare programmes. They are trained to become
Counselling. Pre-Adoption assessment includes socially sensitive, pro-active and responsible citizens
providing parent guidance and counselling, conducting who value service.
Home Visits, preparing Home Study and Child Study  Learning Environment: The social worker has to work
Reports, facilitating the process (legal and with teaching and non-teaching staff, parents,
administrative) of placement of children in foster care management and the community so as to create a
or Adoption, conducting follow-up visits and preparing productive environment for students. The Social
follow-up reports. worker should infuse the spirit of socially sensitive
2. The Social Worker also makes interventions and takes learning and quest for excellence within the
decisions on behalf of children in cases were the best organization. He/she should make parents aware of
interests of the child are not catered to. good parenting practices and help them resolve the
3. The social worker networks, liaisons, advocates, issues that affect their children. The Social worker also
collaborate and partners with a number of stakeholders intervenes in community issues that affect the student.
to protect the rights of children who are in need of care  According to the CHILDLINE Handbook, some of the
and protection. functions of School Social workers are: 1) School
4. Many children in need of care and protection live in Counsellors or Social Workers are instrumental in
institutions like children’s homes. The social worker is preventing dropouts, reducing levels of wastage and
actively involved in managing these institutions by
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 International Journal of Current Advanced Research Vol 6, Issue 08, pp 5324-5333, August 2017

stagnation, providing guidance, family counselling and 5. Lansdown, G. 2001. Promoting Children’s
other support services. 2) The school social worker Participation in Democratic Decision Making. Itally:
helps promote the school as a centre for learning UNICEF
inputs, nutritional and health inputs and introducing 6. Mehta, N. (2006). Protection and Juvenile Justice
supportive services to education. 3) School social system for Children in need of Care and Protection.
services are essentially to improve quality of education Mumbai: Childline India Foundation (CIF)
to make education more relevant to social realities, 7. Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD),
make educational opportunities available to children Government of India. 2007. Study on Child Abuse:
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[Link]
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Professional social workers and social welfare workers have a [Link]
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How to cite this article:

Jasmine Sarah Alexander (2017) 'Social Work Practice With Children', International Journal of Current Advanced Research,
06(08), pp. 5324-5333. DOI: [Link]

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