Role of the U.S. government in protecting childrens well-bei…

My paper focuses on the role of the U.S. government in protecting childrens well-being, particularly in the areas of mental health services, disability accommodations, and child welfare systems. These policies affect some of the most vulnerable people in society and shape long-term outcomes in education, health, and economic stability. On one side of the debate, supporters argue that strong government involvement is essential. Children cannot advocate for themselves, and families often lack the financial or institutional resources to secure adequate mental health treatment, special education services, or protection from abuse and neglect. Programs like Medicaid, IDEA (special education law), foster care systems, and school-based counseling exist because private markets alone would leave many children without care. From this perspective, government intervention is not only practical but a moral responsibility. On the other side, critics argue that government systems can be inefficient, overly bureaucratic, and sometimes harmful when they remove children from families too quickly or fail to tailor services to individual needs. Some believe local communities, families, and private organizations are better equipped to provide personalized care, and that federal programs can become rigid, underfunded, or poorly managed. One thing I learned while researching this topic is how fragmented child-focused policy is. Mental health services, disability support, and child welfare programs are often handled by different agencies with separate funding streams and rules, even though the same child may need all three. This lack of coordination can lead to children falling through the cracks, delayed treatment, or inconsistent support. It made me realize that policy design matters just as much as policy intention.