Lost Children in the Wilderness ©
By J. P. Anderson (International registered copyright of the author 2006) Lost Children in the Wilderness
By J. P. Anderson (International copyright of author 2006)
The very nature of humanity decrees that as infants we have no recall of memory regarding our first few years as living beings, in many cases being not aware is in itself a tender blessing. The first years are in a way blissful as ignorance usually is; thankfully many infants are spared the burden of having to undergo the rather tiresome task of ’parent choosing’. But supposing ’just supposing’ that before we are conceived during the act of sexual intercourse we were empowered to ’choose our parents’ from a parent menu, what choices would we make in order to provide us with a decent chance in life and even more importantly what ’parent types’ would we reject as being unfit, unable, unsuitable and a downright ‘treat’ to our welfare and lives. Philanthropists, mushroomed and sprouted from time-to-time in order to ’save’ those children whom might be saved. Establishments ’often called orphanages’ were opened to care for those children who nobody gave two-dams about. Over the space of hundreds of years ’child-neglect’ became the issue which ’burdened’ men and women of gentle-disposition to act in a way that would reduce if not bring to an end the misery endured by those children who were products of ’nature’ if not love who were abandoned if not murdered or otherwise disposed of because of the burden and disgrace that their living presence imposed upon their parent/s, until some money was offered to the parent in the hope that they might care for their unwanted off-spring thus saving the state considerable sums of most precious money which in all probability could otherwise be diverted by the holders of the state purse-strings to service their own more urgent needs. It soon became apparent to many a ’loving’ parent/s that the money thus received from the state intended to be spent for the welfare of their off-spring would be much better spent on the ’good life’ on drink and drugs, which when consumed in large and regular quantities would be preferred by some parents instead of the boring, tiresome task of looking after their child. From March 1730, and under the new name of ‘The foundling Hospital and Workhouse of the City of Dublin’. Two separate departments were established for children, one for infants and the other for grown children. A revolving basket was placed on the gate of the hospital, into which unwanted children could be put anonymously by day or night. When the bell was rung, the porter inside would revolve the ‘basket’ inwards and take the infant from it. This device was associated with foundling hospitals since medieval times. The procedure adopted by the hospital governors, was to send ’foundlings’ under the age of two years out ‘to nurse’ as soon as they were received, and to put those over two years into the ’children department’ of the workhouse. There were no shortage of ’nurses’ and they congregated daily at the gates of the institution (now St James Hospital) seeking infants. Those given children became entitled to an annual wage of £2. A sum of three shillings and four pence 3/4d was advanced with each infant together with two yards of flannel. However the ‘nurses’ dispatched the infants once they had received the advanced payment, which in time led to the discovery in 1737 of the bodies of thirteen hospital branded infants in a sandpit. This discovery led to the establishment of a House of Lords Committee which was charged with the task of investigating the operation of the workhouse, to suspect that a much greater number of infants had been murdered than might ever be discovered. Eight ‘nurses’ were lodged in ‘New-gate Prison’ charged with the murder of the infants in the sandpit. During the first seven years of the hospitals existence, 4,025 had been received, of whom at least 3,235 had died, and two-thirds or more of such children died between 1730 and 1743. A parent menu, should be carefully studied with a deal of attention given to the almost certain disastrous results of choosing badly, keeping in mind that you are going to be stuck for a long time with the choice that you make, you can never change or bring them back, or complain about them, after all who would listen to a child. We like to think of a child as being loved, cherished and cared for by loving parent/s or caregivers. For tens-of-thousands and millions of children world-wide, their lives are but a horror story from their birth to their death, too often, the space dividing birth and death is indeed short, often too the fate of the child was sealed at the very moment that it was conceived. Many see the birth of a child as, simply a reward to them, because they engaged in the act of sexual intercourse. However, they do not see, much less prepare for the responsibility of parenthood which has been placed upon them by bringing into this world another human-being, another of man-kind made in the image and likeness of Christ. Religion, regardless of which religion that may be is, without any doubt whatever in my view, the single most important factor on a family and community level, that places the vital moral and social values of life and society, the family to the very fore-front of the war against the use and abuse of drugs, alcohol and other deviant states and addictions that emerge within the human person from time to time and are worsened by still other forms of evil which also emerge as forces of human destruction and which must be beaten back. Looking at the root causes of alcohol and other drug addictions, brings about the compelling conclusion that what is most urgently needed is a comprehensive ecological investigation into the social structures, causative of addictions, suicide and other health phenomena in Ireland. Understanding these social conditions of deprivation, neglect, abuse, poverty, mental-ill-health and the appalling lack of services that is in fact available to cater for the needs of communities ’at-risk’ and ’more importantly’ the children within such communities. When looked at, in the context ‘of the rights of the child’ it leads the observer to the unmistakable viewpoint that the child should enjoy rights but quite clearly does not, because the element of ‘care’ has been lost by a society concerned only with their own personal and material wealth. Many and great tasks can be undertaken by the authorities by way of the provision of services, but the bottom line is that. We, society, must fundamentally change for the betterment of all of humanity.
Child Neglect:
The rapid increase in poverty, distress and disease early in the 19 th century generated a feeling of social concern in Ireland and particularly in Dublin where the dean of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral (the one and only Dean Swift) applied his principle of living on one-third of his income, saving a third and giving away a third. So far as his means allowed, he operated a kind of one-man social welfare state in Dublin’s Liberties, partly by personally distributing alms, partly by making loans at low cost interest to tradesmen who needed a little capital to develop their business. Sometimes, However, his feelings overcame him, and on one such occasion, impelled him to write his notorious ’Modest Proposals for Preventing the Children of Poor People From Being a Burden to Their Parents or Country’. “I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child, well nursed, is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled, and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee, or a ragout”. Swift had of course let it be known, that his own great practical gesture would be made in due time. He gave the little wealth he had, to build a House for Fools and Mad (Saint Patrick’s Mental Hospital. Dublin), and showed by one-satiric touch, no nation wanted it so much. Meanwhile, since the parliamentarians and the city fathers were too busy feathering their own nests to have much energy left for doing their public duty, the task of providing hospitals, once the care of the great religious orders, was left to private individuals.
Inequalities in Health‘The Black Report’,
submitted to the British Government in 1980, synthesized much evidence which suggested that Britain’s health services was failing to reduce social inequalities in health. The report argued that working-class men and women are significantly more likely than those in the managerial or professional classes to die early, and that children born into working-class homes are exposed to higher risk of early mortality, illness and injury than those coming from middle-class backgrounds. It suggested some class-differentials in health outcomes had actually increased over the period of 30 years or so. Since the National Health Service was first established.It argued that this was due, …in the main to social inequalities, such as, those found in housing and working conditions, in the distribution of incomes, and in the opportunities for educational advancement. The report concluded that; health standards could only be improved and equalized by major initiatives in community health, preventative medicine, primary care, and ‘more importantly’ by radical shifts in social policy in order to improve the standard of living of the working-class.
The report stimulated further research into class and other persisting-social inequalities in health. The implications of social-mobility for health, (is poor health more common amongst the working-classes and the poor, because sick people are ’likely’ to be ’steadily -downwardly mobile?), and the difficulties of interpretation, regarding complex casual interactions between differences in life-style- (smoking, diet, leisure activities, and the like), and the effects attributable to social-class as such.
It has been estimated that 5,400 fewer people would die prematurely each year in Ireland if death rates were reduced to match those in Europe by tackling social deprivation and inequalities. The National Anti-Poverty Strategy and the Health Strategy- ‘Quality and Fairness’ recognise the link between poverty, poor health and pre-mature mortality. However, to date, there is little sign of the inter-sector-al, joined-up approach by government agencies ’that is needed to eliminate poverty and counteract the negative impact on health - of deprivation and exclusion, - an impact that passes from generation to generation.
The reality facing poor and low-income families is that the costs of primary health-care for a sick child are a financial burden, particularly for children requiring continuous-care. These costs, can take up one-quarter of the weekly wage for a low income family. Could it be that, ‘poverty’ is the chief threat to good-health and longevity in our modern society?
Poverty and social-exclusion remain deeply disturbing problems within European society, with 15% (or, 55 million people) living below the official EU poverty line.
Poverty and social-exclusion, have many and varied causes, and to address them, there is a need for wide-ranging and integrated policies and measures across many areas of society and government. In spite of Ireland’s improved economic performance, there is still poverty. Poverty and social disadvantage are most closely associated with lower levels of mental and physical health, and increase in the need for services addressing these problems.
If the national policy of equity in health services is to be implemented, resources will have to be targeted at areas and populations of greatest need. The allocation and use of public funds have to be consistent with evidence-based practice and value for money. In this context it is important to make decisions on service developments in a strategic, well planned manner. Food-poverty refers to the inability of a family or person to access a ‘nutritionally adequate diet’ and the related impacts on health, culture and social-participation. Living in poverty and social-disadvantage imposes constraints on food-consumption - behaviour in three principle ways. - First, affordability in terms of the cost of food and, in the context of a low-income-household, the ‘consequent share’ of the household budget, allocated to buy food-items. Secondly, access to food: the retail options available, the capacity to shop in terms of transport and physical ability and the availability of storage and cooking facilities, all limit access to food. Thirdly, ‘Psychosocial’ factors also matter in determining food-choice amongst socially disadvantaged groups; personal skills and knowledge, social pressure and cultural ‘norms’ each interact with structural and economic constraints, to produce a complex constellation of factors, contributing to food poverty.
Food-Poverty is not just about the consumption of ‘too-little food’ to meet the basic human nutritional requirements, and consequent adverse health-effects of lack of nutrition. In food-poor situations, social and cultural behaviour is also compromised as people cannot eat, shop-for, provide or exchange food in the manner that has become the acceptable ‘norm’ in society.
No room at the inn, for homeless children:
Despite a government programme ‘Homelessness an Integrated Strategy’ launched in May of 2000 and aimed at solving the homeless problem by the end of 2003, the numbers of homeless children increased by 15% to 1,140 in that time. More than 100 people between the ages of 16 and 25 years of age were homeless in Cork alone during 2003. During the latter part of 2001, Mary Higgins, Director of the governments ‘homeless agency’ stoutly defended and stressed the importance of The Government Strategy, saying that “The Government Strategy is extremely important, because it’s the first time the government has had a strategy”.
Sister, Stanislaus Kennedy, President of Focus Ireland, noted in 2000 that; “The age profile of homeless children has become younger. The original cause of the child’s homelessness may be neglect or abuse at home, but the fact that society makes no alternative provision for them is equally a factor in their homelessness”. Sister Stanislaus also called on the Taoiseach, (Irish Prime-Minister); to take a leading role in putting in place a system that will ensure that, never again will a child in need of care be neglected or abused. “Will he, for the love of god, institute a department for children, and appoint a senior minister with full authority to head it” she said.
More important still, was the results of a study undertaken by Focus Ireland into the mental and physical health and wellbeing of homeless families in Dublin.
The study found that, many parents suffered from low self-esteem and showed depressive symptoms.
Some 87% of the mothers smoked, while pregnant and almost half the children were born after complicated pregnancies.
Nearly all the families in the study were headed by women only.
Many children were at a disadvantage, even before they were born.
Care workers noted Caroline’s very low self-esteem and poor budgeting and home management skills;
Her children’s behaviour was also very worrying;
The eldest child, Sharon 10 years old, was suspicious and cautious.
Paul 7 years old was an unhappy boy and often seemed frustrated and upset.
Shane 3 years old appeared to have speech problems.
Mary at just 11 months old seemed withdrawn.
Caroline and her children moved into local authority housing. However, Focus Ireland is concerned, that she is not getting the very necessary childcare support that she so obviously needs. “It is disturbing that families such as Caroline’s do not have the support of spouses, partners, relatives or friends”.
Sister Stanislaus said that “it’s not surprising, that there is a consistent picture of highly stresses parents caring for their very young children, who may be experiencing social, health, and psychological problems. 25% of the parents were homeless themselves as children, and now (their children) are on the slippery slope to instability and homelessness and the most appalling aspect of all of this is that the number of families in similar situations is increasing daily. We all ask about the past; how was it allowed to happen? Why didn’t somebody do something? Well now we have the opportunity to do something about a new situation of pain and abuse for children, but unless the government grasps the situation and puts in place the measures that we are calling for, we will continue daily to fail our children-at-risk, as people in the past failed those children who were abused in care”.
Sleeping on the streets:
Ms Orla Barry, head of services with Focus Ireland, said “not every young homeless is a drug-user, there are children who have done their junior cert- during periods of their lives when they were uncertain where they were going to sleep that night. But there are very many young people whose problems are deeper. Many young people on the streets have learning difficulties and psychological or emotional problems. There are youngsters who, ‘as she puts it’ “in terms of their concentration, their ability to interact with others, their ability to manage their own emotions, would have real difficulties”.
“Very often, they have ‘fallen through’ the education system. Neither they nor their families got the help that they needed when they were young children. … The focus has to be on helping children and families in their own areas and much earlier.
(Authors note: when there is a real chance of making a difference.)
“The real heavy resources have to go into family support” says Mr Pat Mcloughlin, Director of Planning and Commissioning with (the then) Eastern Regional Health Authority, (now the HSE), many of today’s problems arise from a failure to support families in the past, During the cutbacks of the late 1980s and the early 1990s, front line health-care workers were being let-go, ’and a price was paid’.
Ms Alice O’Flynn, Director of Homelessness Services, with (the former) ERHA said, “Ireland is trying to catch up on 20 years of a lack of resources”.
Mental Health Services for the Homeless:
“No mental health service exists in isolation and there must be especially close ties between forensic services, rehabilitation services and mental health services for homeless people. Patients with severe and enduring mental illness are most at risk of falling out of care and coming in conflict with the law. The risks are higher for those who are homeless and for those who abuse alcohol and drugs. These problems will be most acute in urban areas, particularly in Dublin, which is very poorly provided with specialist rehabilitation mental health services. At present, mental health services for the homeless are also poorly developed with just two inadequately staffed teams available, one in the HSE Northern Area and one in the HSE South-Western Area. These teams need to be fully staffed and need work in conjunction with each other to provide appropriate care to homeless people with mental illness who do not recognise catchment or HSE Area boundaries. …The serious lack of services for these three vulnerable patient groups-those who have severe and enduring mental illness, those who offend and those who are homeless-are in direct contravention of the principle of proportionality espoused in the national health strategy”.
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