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In 2004, prompted by advocacy efforts from Taiwan's Child Welfare League Foundation (CWLF), the Taiwanese government began implementation of the Child and Youth High-Risk Family Program (High-Risk Family Program), which targets families with children under the age of 18 that might be dealing with situations such as marital problems, family conflicts, parenting problems, mental illness, addiction, or suicide. The goal of the program is to allow children to receive proper care while ensuring that families can remain intact and self-sustained. The service includes frequent home visitations and connects the families to relevant resources. This article will introduce the development of, achievements of, and challenges faced by the High-Risk Family Program between 2004 and 2018. It describes the attached Adversity Turnaround Program and concludes with suggestions for future improvement.
From 2001 to 2004, there were many child abuse and filicide-suicide incidents in Taiwan. The case that provoked the most public criticism occurred in January 2005 when Chiu, a four-year-old girl who was severely battered by her alcoholic father, was eventually pronounced brain dead due to the delay in transfer to the hospital. The case received massive public criticism of the medical system. After examining this and other cases, authorities discovered that most of these families had experienced critical, life-altering issues such as unemployment, child neglect, drug or alcohol abuse, and divorce. These families, however, never had been referred to Taiwan's child protective services (CPS) system.
Taiwan's Child Welfare League Foundation is a nonprofit organization devoted to child and youth welfare in the fields of both direct and indirect services. We provide more than 20 direct services to children and families and conduct advocacy and research on child welfare policies. After CWLF strongly advocated for change, and under considerable public pressure, the Taiwanese government implemented the Child and Youth High-Risk Family Program (High-Risk Family Program), which targets families with children under the age of 18 that cannot provide a stable environment or appropriate care for the children because of their financial problems (poverty and unemployment), family conflicts, or physical or mental health issues (substance abuse, mental illness, suicide, or developmental delays). After the families are reported, government social workers refer these families to related NGOs1-with whom the program contracts-for intervention services. This format is similar to...