UNICEF released a study showing the United States near the bottom in regards to the well-being of children. http://rawstory.com/…
Children’s health is not related to a country’s gross national product, according to the study.
In fact, the United States and Britain are in the bottom two positions.
The poor condition of “family and peer relationships” and incidence of risk-taking behaviors is part of the reason.
If the United States supported parenting and treated it with economic respect, I think this would make a major difference in the health of children; what if the Finnish program was repeated here? Would it be the end of welfare and poverty as we know them…I wonder.
The concept of the deserving/undeserving poor may just be what has left children and families at the bottom here.
Children’s well-being, per this study, is the result of policy and culture, not the economy of the studied country.
It should surprise no one, however, that Finland, which pays the equivalent of that country’s average wage for either parent to be a full time, homemaker and caregiver, is at the top for children’s well being.
In the United States, ASFA pays a bonus for termination of parental rights – and a foster parent can receive $600 a week per child – but parents receive no support at all for parenting.
