Child Welfare in Chile: Learning from International Experiences to Improve Family Interventions
1
School of Social Work, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Avda, Vicuña Mackenna 4860 Macul, Santiago 781000, Chile
2
School of Psychology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Avda, Vicuña Mackenna 4860 Macul, Santiago 781000, Chile
3
Fundación Hogar Esperanza, Avenida Trinidad Oriente 3400 La Florida, Región Metropolitana, Santiago 4170000, Chile
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Academic Editor: Nathan Hughes
Soc. Sci. 2015, 4(1), 219-238; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci4010219
Received: 13 December 2014
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Revised: 10 February 2015
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Accepted: 12 February 2015
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Published: 13 March 2015
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding and Supporting 'Families with Complex Needs')
Poor outcomes and several complaints to the judicial system against residential services for children have triggered a deep review of the Chilean child welfare services, particularly in relation to family reunification. This paper offers strategic guidelines to improve alternative care for children younger than six years of age, who are under protective measures. To define such guidelines, a case study was developed based on current models of residential services and foster home programs, which included local (Chile) and international evidence; also this research includes original empirical data collected through focus groups and interviews with key stakeholders of these programs in Chile and in two countries with advanced social services for children (Sweden and Italy). Findings refer to a structural need for reforming social services for Chilean children. Such reform should involve appropriate legislation to guarantee the rights of children and families; a substantial budgetary review leading to an increase in spending; and boosting professional specialization; and raising the capacity for offering integrated services.
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MDPI and ACS Style
Muñoz-Guzmán, C.; Fischer, C.; Chia, E.; LaBrenz, C. Child Welfare in Chile: Learning from International Experiences to Improve Family Interventions. Soc. Sci. 2015, 4, 219-238. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci4010219
AMA Style
Muñoz-Guzmán C, Fischer C, Chia E, LaBrenz C. Child Welfare in Chile: Learning from International Experiences to Improve Family Interventions. Social Sciences. 2015; 4(1):219-238. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci4010219
Chicago/Turabian StyleMuñoz-Guzmán, Carolina, Candice Fischer, Enrique Chia, and Catherine LaBrenz. 2015. "Child Welfare in Chile: Learning from International Experiences to Improve Family Interventions" Social Sciences 4, no. 1: 219-238. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci4010219
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