An Analysis of Children Services Policies in Transitional States


   Emerging democracies in Europe and Asia are in a state of transition, where traditional structures of civil society co-exist in an uneasy partnership with modern and ever-changing forms of social organization. More recently, there had been a continuing process of modifications, adjustments and review of policies and resource allocation to mould up the priorities in many different arenas of social concern. The inevitable necessity to do this can not be denied for obvious reasons, however, this certainly does not justify the diversion from or neglect of certain very significant issues of concern, for example Children Services Sector and the relevant policy making process.

    The aim of this research would be to look in to the process of formulation and implementation of long and short term policies and strategies associated with the children services in the Transitional states in Europe and Asia. The study would emphasize upon the remarkable similarities and also the diversities of problems and priorities for policy makers and the civil society in these states. The output of this comparative research would be an important contribution towards the better understanding of children services sector issues and will also provide an insight on relevant experiences across diverse cultures.

    This research would deal with this issue from a comparative perspective and would strive to analyze the scenario from a broader as well as a specific outlook with respect to the socio-economic and political conditions prevailing in different regions across Asia and Europe. One of the aims of this study would be to identify and present profiles of promising federal, state and/or community-based health and human services programs believed to be enhancing the health and development of children in the context of welfare reform. The role and expectations from many stakeholders like the state, NGOs and the community can be identified and elaborated in their respective spheres. Targeted activities may include case management strategies, child assessment programs, links between Pre-Kindergarten and child care programs, school readiness programs, and the use of formal child care versus informal child care arrangements.

    It is widely acknowledged that the young child is most vulnerable to malnutrition, morbidity, resultant disability and mortality. The early years are the most crucial period in life, when the foundations for cognitive, social, emotional, language, physical development and lifelong learning are laid.

    One of the basic questions relating to this project would be the universality of the need to prioritize the Child Services sector and the lack of positive developments in the transitional states. This is in contrast to the ratification of conventions and adoption of well-elaborated policies by the developed states (children have been included, either directly or indirectly, in most of the nearly 80 treaties and decrees on human rights in this century). This mounting crisis in practical compliance with the ideal standards can also be evaluated with phenomena that the rate of technological and political change has outpaced the rate of cultural change. Also, the need for the protection interest of the children has increased, but the readiness of states to bind themselves remains limited. The fact that the "Under 18" group forms the majority in Asian democracies and are lesser in comparison to the elderly population in regions like Eastern Europe would provide an interesting dimension to an analysis in this direction.

    The formulation of the local government and grass root governance is taking roots in most of these societies. While victims of injustice and poverty have always had trouble being heard, none have had more trouble, historically, than children. It is important to highlight the viability of Children Services by introducing compatible policies as the evolution of the local government infrastructure is taking place. Any social welfare exercise would be meaningless if it is not assigned a place in the political order in which it is to be exercised. It is necessary that this paradox is resolved if any policy is to be respected and implemented in practice. Such an implementation will never be effective unless it reflects the genuine consensus of the populace by re-examining the prevailing socio-economic conditions and by identifying and generating innovative, cheap and efficient services for children.

    Recognizing that early childhood development constitutes the foundation of human development, such policies should be designed to promote holistic development of children under six years, through the strengthened capacity of communities and improved access to basic services, at the community level. The disadvantaged and low-income groups should have easy access to any output of such policies for effective disparity reduction.

    These policies should provides an integrated approach for converging basic services for improved childcare, early stimulation and learning, health and nutrition, water and environmental sanitation - targeting young children, expectant and nursing mothers and women groups. When it comes to Asian cultures, increased emphasis should be laid on releasing girls from the burden of sibling care and to enable them to participate in primary education.

    The condition most common to children who suffer, or are deprived of, opportunity is the poverty resulting from economic injustice. This includes such gauges as malnutrition levels; under-five mortality rates; percentage of children reaching the fifth grade of primary school; and low literacy rates for women. In many poor countries, children work to supplement meager family income or otherwise to help the family business. Although they may not always work under the most desirable conditions, their families are not intentionally exploiting most of them. The real issue in such cases is not whether the children work or not, but whether the conditions under which they work are just, and whether they are being denied other basic rights because of their work. These include the right to education, to freedom from abuse, and to proper health care.

    This study will also strive to provide current information about the price and availability of childcare for low-income families. This can be very supportive in depicting a clearer comparative picture across these cultures.

    The recommendation at the end of this study would be elaborated after the analysis of the information gathered and would also focus on steps to streamline effective Policy making to;

· Lay the foundation for the proper psychological, physical and social development of the child.

· Reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropouts.

· Achieve effective coordination of policy and implementation among various departments to promote child development.

· Enhance the capability of the mother to look after the normal health and nutritional needs of the child, through proper health and nutrition education.

· Improvement of health services through Immunization, Health check-ups, Referral services etc. Free Treatment of minor illnesses.

· Fulfilling the Nutrition needs by Supplementary feeding, Growth monitoring and promotion of Nutrition and health education.

· Convergence Of other support services, such as safe drinking water, environmental sanitation, women's empowerment programmes, non-formal education and adult literacy.
 

       No comprehensive research has been conducted so far to elaborate the issue from a comparative perspective. Whatever literature is present is fragmented. Any research study in this direction can be a useful and productive contribution to this on going debate and will make an interesting thesis. Data collection for evaluative study will be done in respective areas. Thereby, an empirical component, if needed, will also be added to the final draft.

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