Child Advocacy: Psychological Issues and Interventions

The details of the history of child advocacy have been vividly described in an article by Takanishi (1978). In reviewing her work and that of others, four historical phases in child advocacy can be identified: 1. The first period was the evolution of the concept of childhood as a distinct and separate developmental stage. Aries (1962) has described how the concept of childhood as a period different from adulthood did not evolve philosophically until the sixteenth century. It was only after that time, through the influence of Rousseau and other philosophers, that childhood was seen, at first romantically, and later more realistically, as a special time for growth and learning, with unique styles and mechanisms. 2. It was not until the nineteenth century, however, with the rapid rise that a formal effort was made to of science and major socioeconomic changes identify and try to meet children's needs. A number of organizations specifi­ cally devoted to children arose and attempts to help children in ways consis­ tent with the developing knowledge became a major social issue. Initially, the interest was in children's health with infant mortality, child labor, and safety as paramount issues. Although socioeconomic factors initiated the change (children's labor was no longer economically necessary), a basic humanistic philosophy underlay this phase. Major dedication to alleviating the pain and injury done to children who were helpless to defend themselves and who were being deprived of opportunities for growth became the goal.

Table of Contents:
1 Children’s Rights: The Foundation of Child Advocacy.- What are Children’s Rights?.- Attitudes toward Children’s Rights.- Social Welfare Orientation and Child Saving.- The Social Scientist’s Role in Child Advocacy.- 2 The Consumer’s Point of View: Children’s Concepts of Their Rights.- Children’s Legal Status.- Review of the Literature and Hypotheses.- Method.- Results and Discussion.- Implications for Public Policy and Educational Practice.- 3 Human Ecology and Child Advocacy.- Support Systems.- The Quality of Life.- Ecological Assessment.- Conclusions.- 4 Social Interventions with Children.- Child Therapy.- Vocational Treatments.- Educational Treatments.- Problems of Implementation.- 5 The Nature of Advocacy.- Forms of Advocacy.- Toward Clinical Advocacy.- 6 Administrative Advocacy: Changing Bureaucracies.- The Nature of Bureaucracy.- Administrative Remedies.- Making Bureaucracy Responsive.- 7 Legislative Advocacy: Lobbying on Behalf of Children.- The Need for Lobbying.- Who Lobbies on Behalf of Children?.- Needed: Rationality and Commitment.- Tactics.- Legal Problems Connected with Lobbying.- Training and Research Needs.- 8 Legal Advocacy: Social Change and the Law.- Bringing Child Psychology to the Courtroom.- Changes Wrought by the Courts.- Conclusions.- 9 Concepts of Childhood: Implications for Child Advocacy.- Childhood in the Context of Modern Philosophy.- The Ethnology of the Child.- Conclusions: An Agenda for Advocacy.- Appendix: Children’s Rights Interview.- References.- Table of Cases.- Author Index.