Abstract:

Accelerating the construction of the child welfare system will not only provide powerful support for modern families, but it will also promote the development of the population. Reviewing the historical changes to the core concepts of child welfare, this study proposes a “developmental theoretical perspective”.This analytical view is based on observations of the relationship between children, families and the State, as development-oriented universal child welfare has been established. From this perspective, compared with OECD countries, China’s child welfare system lacks universality in its value orientation, is insufficiently based on the developmental welfare of its subjects, and its targeting system for policy objectives is not diversified. China should instead move towards a universal child welfare system that reflects social, economic, and demographic reality. This means expanding child welfare to mean more than mere survival. China should move towards a development-oriented welfare. Ultimately, any system must achieve child protection and development, the alleviation of parental burdens at the family level, and the promotion of fertility at the national level, as well as investment in human capital.

Key words: high-quality population development, child welfare, developmental theoretical perspective