Vulnerable Children

Henry G. MacLeod teaches sociology at both Trent University and the
University of Waterloo.

The National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY) is an
ongoing research project that follows the progress of children from
infancy to adulthood. Funded by the Applied Research Branch of Human
Resources Development Canada and conducted in co-operation with
Statistics Canada, under the direction of the NLSCY Expert Advisory
Committee, Vulnerable Children presents a compilation of papers. The
characteristics and life experiences of Canadian children are analyzed
by utilizing the research findings collected between December 1994 and
May 1995, the base year for the longitudinal study. The book is edited
by Dr. J. Douglas Willms, a member of the advisory committee and also a
major contributor for many of its 20 articles.

A major contribution is that children are classified as vulnerable
based on outcomes (e.g., behaviour problems) instead of risk factors
(e.g. single parenting). The limitation with using risk factors is that
children can grow up healthy despite risks, or vice versa (unhealthy
without risks). The focus on outcomes helps to identify children with
problems. Vulnerability results from the environments in which children
are raised—their families, their schools, their neighbourhoods, and
their local community. Behaviour problems are linked more to parenting
skills and family cohesiveness than to situational factors like poverty.

The book is rich in interesting essays that examine the prevalence of
vulnerable children, the effects of smoking and drinking during
pregnancy, maternal depression, the importance of child care, and the
role of the peer group. The last two chapters look at investing in
children and the need to create a family-enabling society. Eliminating
child poverty is an important goal; however, that alone would not
prevent children from being vulnerable. Families and communities also
need to receive the support necessary to raise children well through
education in parenting, access to child care, and other resources.

Vulnerable Children makes an important contribution to the current
social policy debate on children in poverty and the responsibility of
government, business, and the general public to help families. This
collection will be of interest to policy-makers; to social workers,
teachers, and others who work with children; and to those in the
academic community.