Law That Impacts the Delivery of Human Service

Law That Impacts the Delivery of Human Service

Introduction

Human services organizations have been increasing day-by-day across the globe. These organizations need to follow some laws as mentioned by the state or international legislations. Among Human services organizations, child welfare services are growing rapidly. In United States the child abuse and neglect is increasing rapidly, as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service indicated that each year approximately 141,700 children gets severely injured due to abuse or neglect (Harkin, 2010). Therefore, the legal authorities of United States have established the law of Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA). This law is designed to protect children from abuse and neglect, and to provide treatment to victims. CAPTA was originally enacted in 1974 (P.L. 93-247), it was most recently amended and reauthorized on 20th December, 2012, as Public Law 111-320 (www.apa.org). CAPTA is also supported by American Psychological Association and it held the law as important one. The main purposes of CAPTA are to support state in improving the system of child protective service by the basic state grant, and to support activities that prevent child abuse by granting funds to states and private or public agencies or organizations.

Discussion

Reliable Resources to Learn About the Implication of CAPTA

There are many different sources that cover the implication of CAPTA, including the report given by the Department of Health and Human Services USA about the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, on 25th June 2003 (www.acf.hhs.gov), American Psychological Association (APA) report on CAPTA (www.apa.org), Report provided by the California Department of Social Services on CAPTA, in 2011 (www.childsworld.ca.gov). Another resource is American Bar Association web-site's section of Litigation which covers Children's Right Litigation and gives information regarding CAPTA Reauthorization Act of 2010 (www.apps.americanbar.org). These and many other reliable sources provide information on CAPTA implications.

Purpose or Rationale of the Law

The main purposes of CAPTA are to support state in improving the system of child protective service by the basic state grant, and to support activities that prevent child abuse by granting funds to states and private or non-profit organizations. It also supports in innovation by helping in research funding and demonstration project grants for preventing children maltreatment with corresponding evaluation, training, technical aid, and data collection activities. Finally, it supports the national Office on Child Abuse and Neglect and the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect (CDSS, 2011).

CAPTA provides the minimum definition of child abuse and neglect as: On part of parent or caretaker, any recent action or failure to act which outcomes in death, severe physical or emotional destruction, and sexual violence. Further, it says an action or failure to act which results in imminent risk of serious destruction (CDSS, 2011).

Effect of This Law in Operations within Human Service Organizations

The CAPTA law affects the operations of human service organizations, as it legally binds the human services organizations as well to prevent child abuse and neglect and protect children. Human services organizations who are involved in ...