The Child as Victim: A System of Paradoxes.

The child is scapegoat in the struggle between varying forces--political, professional, or ideological--in the effort to establish services on his behalf. Faddism, political mottoes, and professional cliches are overdetermining service planning for children. The child has become the victim of his rescuers. Illustrations are given from national and state levels concerning current conflicts regarding day care, the juvenile justice system, and judicial determination for voluntery placements. Also discussed are oriented social services and community control issues. (Author)