Social Policies About Children
Children are a vulnerable group of the general population and -- according to UNICEF -- must have particular rights that recognize their need for protection. Even before the Convention on the Rights of the Child was created, social policy in developed countries included certain provisions for the purpose of protecting children and ensuring they reach adulthood in a stable environment.
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Safe Abode
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Young children and teenagers who are without a home for any reason, either because they were abandoned or orphaned, have the right to live in a safe environment. This is why the Administration for Children and Families of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services actively promotes adoption policies. Children have the right to stay in a safe, organized environment until an appropriate foster family agrees to offer protection and care to the child.
Education
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Regardless of the family's economic means, children have the right to education, and the state must provide options even for kids of families who cannot afford the tuition fees of private institutes. In countries of the developed world, including the U.S., compulsory education must be free in public schools. Education is imperative for children, as they will learn about the society they grow up in and abide by its rules. In addition, as adults, they will use the skills they acquired to take up a profession in which they are interested.
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Child Abuse Protection
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Children's inferior physical strength makes them susceptible to abuse by strangers, or even their own family members. The Administration for Children and Families is hard on this issue and in collaboration with law enforcement authorities, as well as educators, tries to spot cases of child abuse or neglect and bring the guilty parties to justice. When the incarcerated abusers happen to be the child's parents, the procedure to find a caring family will begin immediately. In the meantime, children will be supported psychologically, to ensure a childhood incident won't haunt them for life.
Leisure Facilities and Time Management
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According to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, kids have the right to rest and leisure, hence, it's up to the state or the local community to provide space for children to play without fear, as well as time to rest. Playgrounds and sports facilities, protected with barriers, fence or by being located away from busy streets, can be found in every community. In addition, the everyday school program allows time for children to follow their individual interests from early-late afternoon until bedtime.
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