Editing Attachment theory (section)

===Child care policies===
Social policies concerning the care of children were the driving force in Bowlby's development of attachment theory. The difficulty lies in applying attachment concepts to policy and practice.<ref name="rut08">{{cite encyclopedia |year=2008 |title=Implications of Attachment Theory and Research for Child Care Policies |encyclopedia=Handbook of Attachment: Theory, Research and Clinical Applications |publisher=Guilford Press |location=New York and London |pages=[https://archive.org/details/handbookofattach0000unse_n9k8/page/958 958–74] |isbn=978-1-60623-028-2 | vauthors = Rutter M |veditors=Cassidy J, Shaver PR |url= https://archive.org/details/handbookofattach0000unse_n9k8/page/958 }}</ref> In 2008 [[C.H. Zeanah]] and colleagues stated, "Supporting early child-parent relationships is an increasingly prominent goal of mental health practitioners, community-based service providers and policy makers&nbsp;... Attachment theory and research have generated important findings concerning early child development and spurred the creation of programs to support early child-parent relationships."<ref name="BZL">{{cite encyclopedia |year=2008 |title=Prevention and Intervention Programs for Supporting Early Attachment Security |encyclopedia=Handbook of Attachment: Theory, Research and Clinical Applications |publisher=Guilford Press |location=New York and London |pages=[https://archive.org/details/handbookofattach0000unse_n9k8/page/745 745–61] |isbn=978-1-60623-028-2 |vauthors=Berlin L, Zeanah CH, Lieberman AF |veditors=Cassidy J, Shaver PR |url=https://archive.org/details/handbookofattach0000unse_n9k8/page/745 }}</ref> Additionally, practitioners can use the concepts of attachment theory that suggests deep relationships which builds attachment security towards mental health interventions. Attachment security has been found to strengthen one's ability to cope with stress, anxiety, and maintain that, in turn, can contribute to the person's well-being and mental health<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Chen |first1=Jia |last2=Jordan |first2=Lucy P. |date=2019-07-17 |title=Psychological Well-Being of Coresiding Elderly Parents and Adult Children in China: Do Father–Child and Mother–Child Relationships Make a Difference? |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0192513x19862845 |journal=Journal of Family Issues |volume=40 |issue=18 |pages=2728–2750 |doi=10.1177/0192513x19862845 |s2cid=199177299 |issn=0192-513X|url-access=subscription }}</ref> For example,  previous studies have demonstrated that individuals who demonstrate avoidance attachment styles experiences less stress and distress when presented with ostracism.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Yaakobi |first1=Erez |last2=Williams |first2=Kipling D. |date=May 2016 |title=Recalling an Attachment Event Moderates Distress after Ostracism |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/per.2050 |journal=European Journal of Personality |volume=30 |issue=3 |pages=258–273 |doi=10.1002/per.2050 |s2cid=147614160 |issn=0890-2070|url-access=subscription }}</ref> However, finding quality childcare while at work or school is an issue for many families. NIHD recent study convey that top notch day care contributes to secure attachment relationships in children.<ref>{{cite journal | author = NICHD Early Child Care Research Network | year = 1997 | title = The effects of infant child care on infant-mother attachment security: Results of the NICHD study of early child care | url = https://archive.org/details/sim_child-development_1997-10_68_5/page/860 | journal = Child Development | volume = 68 | issue = 5| pages = 860–879 | doi = 10.2307/1132038 | jstor = 1132038 }}</ref>

People have commented on this matter stating that "legislative initiatives reflecting higher standards for credentialing and licensing childcare workers, requiring education in child development and attachment theory, and at least a two-year associate degree course as well as salary increases and increased stature for childcare positions".<ref name="Sweeney GM 2007. pp. 332">{{cite book | vauthors = Sweeney GM | chapter = Why childhood attachment matters: Implications for personal happiness, families and public policy. | veditors = Loveless S, Homan T | title = The family in the new millennium. | url = https://archive.org/details/familyinnewmille0000unse | location = Westport, CT | publisher = Praeger | date = 2007 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/familyinnewmille0000unse/page/332 332]–346 }}</ref> Corporations should implement more flexible work arrangements that recognize child care as essential for all its employees. This includes re-examination of parental leave policies. Too many parents are forced to return to work too soon post childbirth because of company policy or financial necessity. No matter the reason this inhibits early parent child bonding.<ref name="Cassidy, Jude 2013" /> In addition to this, there should be increased attention to the training and screening of childcare workers. In his article reviewing attachment theory, Sweeney suggested, among several policy implications, "legislative initiatives reflecting higher standards for credentialing and licensing childcare workers, requiring education in child development and attachment theory, and at least a two-year associate degree course as well as salary increases and increased stature for childcare positions".<ref name="Sweeney GM 2007. pp. 332" />

Historically, attachment theory had significant policy implications for hospitalized or institutionalized children, and those in poor quality daycare.{{sfn|Karen|1998|pp=252–58}} Controversy remains over whether non-maternal care, particularly in group settings, has deleterious effects on social development. It is plain from research that poor quality care carries risks but that those who experience good quality alternative care cope well although it is difficult to provide good quality, individualized care in group settings.<ref name=rut08/>

Attachment theory has implications in [[Family law|residence]] and [[Contact (law)|contact]] disputes,{{sfn|Karen|1998|pp=252–58}} and applications by foster parents to adopt foster children. In the past, particularly in North America, the main theoretical framework was psychoanalysis. Increasingly attachment theory has replaced it, thus focusing on the quality and continuity of caregiver relationships rather than economic well-being or automatic precedence of any one party, such as the biological mother. [[Michael Rutter|Rutter]] noted that in the UK, since 1980, family courts have shifted considerably to recognize the complications of attachment relationships.<ref name="rut99">{{cite encyclopedia |year=1999 |title=Implications of Attachment Theory for Child Care Policies |encyclopedia=Handbook of Attachment: Theory, Research and Clinical Applications |publisher=Guilford Press |location=New York |url=https://archive.org/details/handbookofattach0000unse/page/823 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/handbookofattach0000unse/page/823 823–44] |isbn=978-1-57230-087-3 |vauthors=Rutter M, O'Connor TG |veditors=Cassidy J, Shaver PR}}</ref> Children tend to have attachment relationships with both parents and often grandparents or other relatives. Judgements need to take this into account along with the impact of step-families. Attachment theory has been crucial in highlighting the importance of social relationships in dynamic rather than fixed terms.<ref name=rut08/>

Attachment theory can also inform decisions made in [[social work]], especially in [[Humanistic psychology|humanistic social work]] ([[Microsociology|Petru Stefaroi]]),<ref name="Stefaroi">{{cite journal | vauthors = Stefaroi P | date = 2012 | title = Humanistic Paradigm of Social Work or Brief Introduction in Humanistic Social Work. | journal = Social Work Review | volume = 10 | issue = 1 | pages = 161–174 | quote = ICID 985513 }}</ref><ref name="Stefaroi P.">{{cite book | vauthors = Stefaroi P | date = 2014 | title = Humane & Spiritual Qualities of the Professional in Humanistic Social Work: Humanistic Social Work – The Third Way in Theory and Practice | location = Charleston, SC | publisher = Createspace }}</ref> and court processes about [[foster care]] or other placements. Considering the child's attachment needs can help determine the level of risk posed by placement options.<ref name="0to3">{{cite journal |vauthors=Goldsmith DF, Oppenheim D, Wanlass J |year=2004 |title=Separation and Reunification: Using Attachment Theory and Research to Inform Decisions Affecting the Placements of Children in Foster Care |url= http://www.zerotothree.org/site/DocServer/AttachmentandFosterCare.pdf?docID=2542 |url-status=dead |journal=Juvenile and Family Court Journal |volume=Spring |issue=2 |pages=1–14 |doi=10.1111/j.1755-6988.2004.tb00156.x |s2cid=144988504 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013210209/http://www.zerotothree.org/site/DocServer/AttachmentandFosterCare.pdf?docID=2542 |archive-date=2007-10-13 |access-date=2009-06-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Crittenden PM, Farnfield S, Landini A, Grey B |s2cid=46679519 |year=2013 |title=Assessing attachment for family court decision making |journal=Journal of Forensic Practice |volume=15 |issue=4 |pages=237–248 |doi=10.1108/jfp-08-2012-0002}}</ref> Within adoption, the shift from "closed" to "open" adoptions and the importance of the search for biological parents would be expected on the basis of attachment theory. Many researchers in the field were strongly influenced by it.<ref name=rut08/>