The Case for Child Welfare Abolition

This article was written by Roxanna Asgarian and published in In These Times.

This article makes the case for the abolition of the family policing system, correcting common myths about abolition and highlighting perspectives of lived experts, advocates, and attorneys.

Asgarian writes, “the abolitionists’ vision of an alternative is more nuanced than critics claim. They want to dismantle the surveillance and punishment aspects of the child welfare system — which research shows decrease neighborhood trust — and replace them with a robust support network that isn’t punitive. The idea is that, when people have their needs met, they are less likely to harm those closest to them, and strong communities caring for children will provide better opportunities to intervene if and when harm happens.”