Life in the United States has been difficult for many children. Statistically speaking, four children are killed due to abuse every day (Allyn & Bacon, 2011). With numbers increasing over the years, change is something that is starting to happen. There are many factors that will influence the child welfare system in the future, such as economic policies, political opinions and current policies implemented (child welfare information). The purpose of the child welfare system is to help children who are being abused. In the past there was no defined policy; however, this is starting to change. One of the systems put in place is the Children's Bureau, an organization that conducts studies on the mental health of abused children (Thomas, 2012). Although this organization does not have the authority to develop federal regulations, it is one of the largest leading child welfare agencies (Thomas, 2012). There are many problems with the economy and government that make it difficult to maintain the child welfare system. In 1900 the child welfare system was something that didn't really exist. Although there were people who believed that it was not good to abuse children, this was not enforced due to how common it was at the time (Alvord). It was only in the late 19th century that the upper class began to recognize the rights of children and want them to be treated with a certain level of care. Back then they believed it was the government's responsibility to intervene when a child was treated unfairly. This is also the period when the Child Rescue Movement was established. The aim of this movement was to protect children and ensure that they were not treated cruelly. The child welfare system was born… middle of paper… tic. Retrieved April 29, 2014, from https://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/statistics/Mumpower, J., & Gary, M. (2014). Judgment and decision making. A Signal Detection Theory Analysis of Racial and Ethnic Disproportionality in the Referral and Validation Processes of the U.S. Child Welfare System (Mumpower & Gary, 2014)Popple, P. R., & Leighninger, L. (2011). The policy-based profession: An introduction to social welfare policy analysis for social workers (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon. Radel, L., Malm, K., & Vandivere, S. (2009, November 8). Adoption in the United States. Adoption USA: Retrieved April 30, 2014, from http://www.aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/09/NSAP/chartbook/chartbook.cfm?id=13Thomas, M. (2012). Journal of Public Child Welfare. One Hundred Years of Children's Bureau Support for Child Care Workers, (Thomas, 2012)