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Traveller children and the state: Welfare or neglect?
Author(s) -
Cemlyn Sarah
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
child abuse review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.569
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1099-0852
pISSN - 0952-9136
DOI - 10.1002/car.2380040407
Subject(s) - neglect , legislation , mainstream , outreach , social work , social welfare , criminal justice , public relations , welfare , social exclusion , political science , public administration , economic growth , sociology , medicine , criminology , law , nursing , economics
Travellers' historical experience is of persecution. Recent policy in England and Wales reflects assimilation or exclusion, with Travellers facing the paradox of pressure to settle and insufficient sites because of the failure to implement legislation. The conditions for many Travellers are damaging, and undermine access to other rights and services. Children are particularly severely affected, resulting in societally imposed neglect. Traveller children's low health status and the negative effects on their development are documented in practice reports, seminars and research. Policy trends have culminated in the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 which removes rights and increases penalties for travelling, and is likely to exacerbate an already problematic situation for many Traveller children. Welfare services both have contributed to and can counteract this societal neglect. Problems of access and service delivery are outlined in relation to health, education and social services, and new service developments described. Key criteria for positive practice are found to be common to these areas of welfare provision, and include anti‐discrimination and cultural respect, outreach and community‐oriented work; hand‐held records; specialist provision focused on immediate needs and commitment to mainstream change; flexibility and inter‐agency development work; and advocacy and campaigning alongside Travellers.