Child Protective Services: A Comparative Examination

Human service networks are completely unwieldy and changeable, and analysis of them is no simple task. Nevertheless, the examination of two such systems – in Michigan, U.S.A. and in Victoria, Australia – ought to enable some conclusions to be drawn as to the effectivenesss and implications of two alternative implementations of basically similar policies for the protection of children. Such an examination is here attempted, using for comparison the Child Protection Units operating under the auspice of the Michigan Department of Social Services in Michigan, U.S.A., and those operated by the Children’s Protection Society in Victoria, Australia.