“Do child welfare researchers, policymakers, and practitioners believe that it is ethically acceptable to be involved in improving the efficacy of a system that takes these children without simultaneously being involved in remedying the problems that bring the children to the system?”

- Mark E. Courtney 1996

Courtney, M.E., Barth, R.P., Berrick, J., Brooks, D., Needell, B., & Park, L. (1996). Race and child welfare services: Past research and future directions. Child Welfare, 75 (2), 99-137.

A FOLK PARABLE...

Two friends were fishing one day when an infant floated by. One of the fishermen jumped into the water, grabbed the baby and handed it to his friend. Another infant floated by. The same fisherman saved her. Then, a whole group of drowning infants floated past. The rescuer again dove into the water, but saw his friend walking away. “What’s wrong with you?” he shouted at his pal. “You save those babies,” the friend yelled back. “I’m going upstream to see who’s throwing them in the river.”

Ideally, some people should continue to rescue the drowning babies whilst others work to stop them being thrown in in the first place. By working together and exchanging information, change will be more effective and sustainable. Advocacy is important because it addresses the root causes of problems, leading to longer-term, more sustainable benefits for young people and their communities.