The July edition of the renowned Sounding Board blog features an insightful discussion titled “Comparing Child Protection: Northern Europe vs. U.S.” Authored by Dee Wilson, the blog draws from The Oxford Handbook of Child Protection Systems (2023), edited by Professors Marit Skivenes, Jill Duerr Berrick, and Neil Gilbert. This comprehensive book provides a detailed analysis of child protection practices across various countries, forming the foundation of Wilson’s comparative article.
In his blog post, Wilson examines the child protection systems of six European countries—Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, England, and Germany—and contrasts them with those of the U.S. He uses the Oxford Handbook of Child Protection Systems’ classification, noting that Scandinavian countries focus on children’s rights, Germany follows a family services model, and England and the U.S. prioritize legal interventions for child maltreatment.
Despite these classifications, Wilson notes the complexities within these systems. For instance, Scandinavian countries and Germany, despite their preference for voluntary family work, have high foster care placement rates due to behavioral issues among children. England’s attempts to shift towards a family services system are hindered by budget constraints. Unlike Scandinavia, England and Germany do not mandate reporting child abuse. Wilson’s analysis underscores that Northern European systems integrate child welfare into broader social welfare frameworks, while the U.S. system often lacks preventive measures and resources.
Dee Wilson brings over 30 years of experience in public child welfare, having served in various roles within Washington State’s Children’s Administration. He directed a training and research institute at the University of Washington and worked with Casey Family Programs. Since 2009, Wilson has authored the Sounding Board commentaries, a series focused on child protection.
Read Dee Wilson’s full blog post here. Additionally, the book The Oxford Handbook of Child Protection Systems (2023) edited by Professors Marit Skivenes, Jill Duerr Berrick, and Neil Gilbert is available here.