Social policy approaches associated with need, risk and rights Essay

Social policy approaches associated with need, risk and rights - Essay Example The CYF operates under the Public Finance Act 1989 while its responsibilities are formed under other related legislation. The CYF was formed in 1999 to protect the rights of children and to improve outcomes for children and youth at risk. It ensures the delivery of efficient social services along with assisting and supporting the children at risk. It is responsible for ensuring safety to children and young people who have been harmed or offended or are at the risk of being harmed. They do this by the provision of specialist and rehabilitative services. Child, Youth and Family Services help to improve the wellbeing of defenseless and exposed children. It also works for young people exposed to similar risks. Child, Youth and Family services working either in association with other departments or alone funds a number of community-based services. CYF has agreements with a range of Maori, Pacific and community service providers. The department of Child, Youth and Family Services helps the Government to fight child abuse especially for children present in foster care or orphan children who are adopted. The department provides adoption services and keeps a regular check on the foster care and the homes where the adopted children are present. The department works to provide information and education to such children in order promote public awareness of child abuse and degree of neglect in them so that they can differentiate between love and abuse. Along with education, the department puts emphasis on legal care and protection and provides youth justice services children and young people and their families. It helps in development and funding of the required community services for the children and youth at risk. It gives policy advice and services to the Minister of Social Development and Employment and the Government. The Department’s social work is based mainly on the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989 some of the most far-sighted and innovati ve legislation. This Act emphasizes the role and responsibilities of families and communities and provides for family decision-making through legal processes known as the family group conferences. The department of Child, Youth and Family Services also works under the legislations of the Adoption Act 1955, Adult Adoption Information Act 1085, Adoption (Intercountry) Act 1997, Guardianship Act 1968 and The Social Worker Registration Act 2003. The Social Worker Registration Act 2003 was introduced and passed into law on 9 April 2003. The main purpose of the Act is to improve the efficiency of social work in New Zealand. A social worker who wants to become registered under the Act, is required to have qualification of social work, and needs to pass social work competency assessment. The Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act 1989 believes and operates on the principle that the primary role in providing care and protecting a child or young person is the responsibility of the chi ld’s or young person’s family, Whanau, hapu, iwi and family group. It is only when the children are not safe or are at risk of being harmed or offended then according to the principles of the act the children should be placed in family like settings where they develop a sense of belonging while their personal and cultural identity are maintained. When the children are given for adoption, the department of Children, Youth and Family services prefer families who are