12 results
Search Results
2. Adapting private family time in child protective services decision‐making processes.
- Author
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Lalayants, Marina and Merkel‐Holguin, Lisa
- Subjects
- *
FAMILIES & psychology , *ANTI-racism , *RESEARCH methodology , *SOCIAL justice , *INTERVIEWING , *QUALITATIVE research , *SELF-efficacy , *FAMILY attitudes , *CHILD welfare , *CHILD health services , *DECISION making , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *RESEARCH funding , *PSYCHOLOGICAL adaptation , *EMPIRICAL research , *SOCIAL responsibility - Abstract
The Family Group Conference (FGC) is grounded in a rights‐based framework, whereby children and their families have the right and responsibility to be primary decision‐makers when child protection issues arise, and the statutory agency has the responsibility to convene the entitled members of the family network to lead the decision‐making. A distinct core component of FGC—private family time (PFT)—allows families to discuss the information and formulate their responses and plans privately during conferencing. This paper describes how a large child welfare agency in the United States adapted PFT in two ways: (1) including a parent advocate (PA) and (2) abbreviating the amount of time allowed for this discussion. Given the lack of empirical research on the PFT component, this qualitative exploratory study sought to understand the functions and perceived impacts of PA‐supported PFT during initial child protective services (CPS) conferences at which decisions of child removal or placement were being contemplated. PFT served multiple beneficial functions and impacted families in several positive ways: families gained greater awareness of safety concerns, felt empowered and confident in the preferred safety and service plan, became increasingly engaged and involved in the case decision‐making process and ultimately felt less apprehensive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
3. Patchwork of promises: A critical analysis of immigration policies for unaccompanied undocumented children in the United States.
- Author
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Hasson, Robert G., Crea, Thomas M., McRoy, Ruth G., and Lê, Ân H.
- Subjects
- *
EMIGRATION & immigration & psychology , *IMMIGRATION law , *CHILD abuse , *CHILD welfare , *CHILDREN'S rights , *EMIGRATION & immigration , *PARENT-child relationships , *PSYCHOLOGY of refugees , *SOCIAL justice , *SOCIAL services , *PROFESSIONAL practice , *GOVERNMENT policy , *SOCIOECONOMIC factors , *CHILDREN ,UNITED States emigration & immigration - Abstract
In 2014, the United States saw a greater than 50% increase in the number of unaccompanied children from Mexico and Central America arriving at the U.S./Mexico border, and unaccompanied children continue to migrate to the United States in consistent numbers. The dramatic increase of 2014 exposed gaps in policies aimed at supporting unaccompanied children as they await legal adjudication. This paper begins with a historic review of immigration policies in the United States aimed at supporting unaccompanied migrant children. An analytic review is provided of existing immigration policies in the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of Refugee Resettlement, highlighting the competing paradigms created by missions of security‐focused policy versus child‐centred policy. A close examination of the values that influenced policy development in this area is included, along with a discussion of how social work practice can infuse elements of social justice into immigration policy reform. Areas for future research to reform immigration policy focused on supporting unaccompanied undocumented minors are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
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4. Child welfare workers' perceptions of children's participation: a comparative study of England, Norway and the USA ( California).
- Author
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Križ, Katrin and Skivenes, Marit
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CHILD welfare , *COMPARATIVE studies , *CONCEPTUAL structures , *DECISION making , *HUMAN rights , *INTERVIEWING , *RESEARCH methodology , *SENSORY perception , *RESEARCH funding , *SOCIAL workers , *PATIENT participation , *THEMATIC analysis , *DATA analysis software - Abstract
This paper examines how child welfare workers in England, Norway and the USA (California) perceive children's participation building on 91 qualitative interviews. First, analysing the data using Hart's ladder of children's participation, we found that all Norwegian workers perceived children's participation as some form of decision‐making, whereas 40% of English and 35% of US workers embraced views of children's participation that can be considered token or non‐participation. Second, we coded the data for main themes and found that child welfare workers in all three countries perceived children's participation as hearing the child's opinion and information gathering. The themes of age, maturity and ability to form an opinion also emerged from the data. English workers' reflections about children's participation were more nuanced than their Norwegian and US counterparts; and US workers understood children's participation as children providing valuable information during the investigation of a case more frequently than workers in England and Norway. We discuss the implications of these findings on future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2017
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
5. Development of an evidence-informed in-home family services model for families and children at risk of abuse and neglect.
- Author
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Ingram, Stephanie D., Cash, Scottye J., Oats, Robert G., Simpson, Amy, and Thompson, Ronald W.
- Subjects
- *
TREATMENT of behavior disorders in children , *CHILD welfare , *COGNITIVE therapy , *FAMILY assessment , *FAMILY medicine , *FAMILY psychotherapy , *HEALTH outcome assessment , *PARENTING , *PARENTS , *DYSFUNCTIONAL families , *RISK assessment , *SOCIAL case work , *SOCIAL isolation , *SOCIAL networks , *SOCIAL services , *EVIDENCE-based medicine , *PROFESSIONAL practice , *FAMILY relations , *CLIENT relations , *SOCIAL support , *SOCIAL learning theory , *RESIDENTIAL care , *SOCIAL services case management , *HUMAN services programs , *PARENTING education - Abstract
This paper describes the components of a programme designed to prevent child maltreatment which includes the promising practices of a continuous engagement process, cognitive-behavioural parent and skill teaching, and development of formal and informal supports for families. The programme was also designed to be implemented wide scale. Methods for assessment of strengths and needs, individualization of goals and intervention strategies, and assessment of goal achievement are also described. Finally, preliminary results of a programme implementation fidelity and outcome evaluation are summarized. The authors conclude that this programme is ready for a more rigorous efficacy trial to continue to build the evidence base for this promising intervention addressing a prevalent social problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2015
- Full Text
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6. Three models of collaborative child protection: what is their influence on short stays in foster care?
- Author
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Garcia, Antonio, Puckett, Alan, Ezell, Mark, Pecora, Peter J., Tanoury, Theresa, and Rodriguez, Wenceslao
- Subjects
- *
INTERPROFESSIONAL relations , *DECISION making methodology , *STATE governments , *CHILD abuse , *CHILDREN'S accident prevention , *COURTS , *CUSTODY of children , *FAMILY psychotherapy , *FOSTER home care , *MEDICAL protocols , *POLICE , *SOCIAL workers , *TIME , *INSTITUTIONAL cooperation - Abstract
The paper articulates three models of collaboration between child protection services and law enforcement agencies on investigations of child maltreatment, and examines the relative impact of each model on child removals and short-term foster care placements. An extensive review of the research literature is used to derive lessons for jurisdictions using the different models. Promising strategies from several jurisdictions are described as they relate to collaborative investigations, child removal and short-term placements. Finally, we provide recommendations to improve child protection investigations and reduce the use of short-term foster care placements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2014
- Full Text
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7. Shared decision-making: a voice for the Lakota people.
- Author
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Herzberg, Linda
- Subjects
- *
LEGAL status of children , *ADOPTION , *CHILD abuse , *CHILD rearing , *CHILD welfare , *CHILDREN'S accident prevention , *COMMUNICATION , *DECISION making , *FOSTER home care , *INDIGENOUS peoples of the Americas , *LEGISLATION , *SOCIAL justice , *SOCIAL workers , *GOVERNMENT policy , *CULTURAL values - Abstract
ABSTRACT Child welfare has long been a concern for American Indians, so much so that Congress passed the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) in 1978. The ICWA was intended to address was the large number of children placed out of home as a result of abuse and/or neglect, and the corresponding lack of tribal and community input regarding their removal and placement. This paper focuses on one group of American Indian people, the Lakota, whose children are overrepresented in the child welfare system. As a promising practice, shared decision-making will be offered as a culturally appropriate model to build dialogue and cooperation between social workers and their Lakota clients. Shared decision-making holds promise to help address the important social justice issues identified by Congress and by the Lakota people in the 1970s and which remain largely unresolved some 40 years later. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
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8. The mental health status of Latino children in the public child welfare system: a look at the role of generation and origin.
- Author
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Ayón, Cecilia, Krysik, Judy, Gerdes, Karen, Androff, David, Becerra, David, Gurrola, Maria, Moya‐Salas, Lorraine, and Segal, Elizabeth A.
- Subjects
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ACCULTURATION , *ANALYSIS of variance , *BIRTHPLACES , *CHILD Behavior Checklist , *HISPANIC Americans , *LATENT structure analysis , *LONGITUDINAL method , *MEDICAL needs assessment , *MENTAL illness , *STATISTICAL sampling , *T-test (Statistics) , *SECONDARY analysis , *PREDICTIVE validity , *REPEATED measures design , *SEVERITY of illness index , *CHILD welfare , *ASSOCIATIONS, institutions, etc. - Abstract
ABSTRACT As the number of Latino children in public child welfare continues to grow, it is necessary to understand how their mental health is faring. The paper examines emotional and behavioural needs among Latino children who had contact with the public child welfare system. The purpose of this longitudinal study was twofold: to examine the severity of emotional and behavioural problems, and to assess the predictive role of generation status and Latino origin. Latent growth models were completed using the National Survey on Children and Adolescent Well-Being. The predictive model for the externalizing CBCL scale revealed that generation status and Latino origin were significant predictors. At baseline, Puerto Rican children exhibited higher rates of externalizing problems compared with Mexican children. Over time children who were first/second generation tended to have lower scores compared with the third-plus generation children. Implications for practise are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2011
- Full Text
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9. Navigations between regulations and gut instinct: the unveiling of collective memory in decision-making processes where teenagers are placed in residential care.
- Author
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Forkby, Torbjörn and Höjer, Staffan
- Subjects
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LEGAL status of children , *CHILD welfare , *DECISION making , *FOCUS groups , *INTERPROFESSIONAL relations , *INTERVIEWING , *INTUITION , *RESEARCH methodology , *MEMORY , *NEGOTIATION , *PROBLEM solving , *PROFESSIONS , *RISK assessment , *SOCIAL services , *QUALITATIVE research , *PROFESSIONAL practice , *AFFINITY groups , *THEMATIC analysis , *RESIDENTIAL care , *SOCIETIES - Abstract
The decision to take a young person away from his or her family into out-of-home care and treatment is the most drastic intervention within the statutory powers bestowed upon social services. The results of reports on the quality of residential treatment reveal that state supervision has not proven to be a good substitute for parental care. In this paper we analyse the decision-making process when young persons are placed in residential care. Focus groups and individual interviews with different stakeholders were conducted. The results show that the placements are a collective process involving negotiations between the different parties with a coordinating social worker in the middle, with the aim to bring something to build hope on in often desperate situations, regardless of the specific treatment method used. To inform the process, the social workers draw on a 'collective memory' shared among colleagues in the department. Important signs of quality of a residential unit were the relational and collaborative competence from the staff. The inclination to use soft, diffuse information in decision-making shows a striking lack of evidence upon which social workers can build well-informed and knowledge-based decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2011
- Full Text
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10. Research Review: In a rush to permanency: preventing adoption disruption.
- Author
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Coakley, Jennifer F. and Berrick, Jill D.
- Subjects
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ADOPTION -- Social aspects , *CHILD welfare , *CHILD welfare workers , *INSTITUTIONAL care , *FOSTER home care - Abstract
Since the late 1990s, US, UK and Canadian policy have increasingly focused on improving permanency outcomes for looked-after children. Although the ideal permanency outcome of reunification is attained for about half of the children entering out-of-home care, an increasing number of children are adopted each year. The vast majority of adoptions are stable and secure, but concerns about adoption disruption haunt child welfare workers when making this important permanency decision. Despite a variety of definitions employed in the literature, adoption disruption is a general term used to describe the failure or breakdown of an adoptive child’s placement. Studies dating back to the 1970s have reported adoption disruption rates and the characteristics associated with those involved in such cases. This paper reviews available research, principally from the United States, and offers possible explanations for the wide range of reported disruption rates in the literature. After reviewing the research, practice implications for improving adoption outcomes and suggestions for future research are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2008
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
11. Early outcomes for young adults transitioning from out-of-home care in the USA.
- Author
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Courtney, Mark E. and Dworsky, Amy
- Subjects
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SOCIAL work with youth , *CARING , *YOUNG adults , *DESERTION & non-support , *GUARDIAN & ward , *PUBLIC welfare , *CHILD care , *CHILD welfare - Abstract
This paper describes the well-being of participants in the Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth ( n = 603), a study of youth leaving out-of-home care in the USA, at the point where they have been ‘young adults’ for about 1 year. Although some of these young adults are in stable situations and either moving forward with their education or employed in promising jobs, more of them are having significant difficulties during the early stages of the transition to adulthood. Too many are neither employed nor in school, have children that they are not able to parent, suffer from persistent mental illness or substance use disorders, find themselves without basic necessities, become homeless, or end up involved with the criminal justice system. They are doing worse than other young adults across a number of important dimensions. Most of these young adults continue to maintain relations with members of their family of origin, with many finding themselves living with family at age 19. Importantly, those young people who chose to remain under the care and supervision of the child welfare system experienced better outcomes than those who either chose to or were forced to leave care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2006
- Full Text
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12. Promising practices in understanding and treating child neglect.
- Author
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Berry, Marianne, Charlson, Renae, and Dawson, Kari
- Subjects
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CHILD abuse , *CHILD welfare , *CHILD health services , *PUBLIC welfare , *SOCIAL work with children - Abstract
ABSTRACT Child neglect is the most common type of child maltreatment in the United States. However, services provided to families who neglect often fail to address and treat the primary concerns associated with child neglect. The information provided in this paper identifies the primary problems contributing to child neglect, and some promising practices in child welfare casework that address these problems and show positive outcomes for the children and families who experience child neglect. Knowledge pertaining to assessment skills, treatment abilities, and model programmes is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2003
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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