International Child Welfare

3 units

This course aims to provide students with knowledge and skills about child well-being, child development and child care from an international perspective. The historical context of child and family services in Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand and low and middle income countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America will be covered. Students will gain knowledge about the UN Convention of Child Rights and its role in bringing child-centered approaches and policies to the forefront in international child welfare. The importance of international perspectives of child development from both a system-centered and life span perspective will be highlighted. International approaches related to child safety and security, and child protection will be analyzed. Ways in which poverty, war, disasters, and globalization affect the lives of children will also be considered. How international policies, laws and programs facilitate or hinder children achieving optimal development will be discussed. Furthermore, the role of state, international non-government organizations and local agencies will be examined.