Which of the following statements is false regarding the case of Mary Ellen Wilson?

The statement that is true among the options is that the case of Mary Ellen Wilson indeed led to significant changes in child protection laws. Mary Ellen Wilson, an abused child in the late 19th century, became a pivotal figure in child welfare history after her case was publicized by social reformer Etta Wheeler. This drew widespread attention to child abuse and neglect, ultimately leading to greater advocacy for the establishment of child protection laws and the founding of the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the first organization focused on child welfare.

Incorrect statements include the assertion that Mary Ellen was the first documented case in child welfare—a claim that is not entirely accurate as there had been previous cases, albeit they did not receive the same level of attention or documentation. Additionally, while Mary Ellen was placed in a home after her rescue, claiming that she was eventually adopted by a family is misrepresentative; she was placed in a foster care-type setting but was not formally adopted.

Therefore, the statement indicating that all provided options are false is valid because there are inaccuracies in the descriptions of both her case as the first documented case and her adoption status, emphasizing the complexities surrounding her story in the context of early child welfare efforts.