scholarly journals Attitudes and decision-making in the child protection system

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 2-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo Delgado ◽  
Vânia S. Pinto ◽  
João M. S. Carvalho

In the contexts of family neglect or maltreatment, the State intervenes by safeguarding the development and well-being of the child or young person in danger. In more severe situations, the intervention may lead to the child’s removal from the family. The Portuguese Law on the Protection of Children and Young People in Danger (Law 142/2015 of September 8th) favours the placement of the child in a family environment, especially for children up to the age of six. Despite this, in Portugal, in 2015, 8 600 children were in out-of-home care, only 3.5% of which were placed in foster care, while the remaining children were in residential care. Therefore, one of the fundamental rights of the child – living in a family environment – is compromised in practice. This study aims to understand the decision-making process of 200 higher education students in domains related to child protection, and those of 200 professionals who are responsible for providing case assessments and recommendations for intervention in the Portuguese child protection system. Using the Child Welfare Attitudes Questionnaire (Davidson-Arad & Benbenishty, 2008, 2010), the study aimed to identify the participants’ attitudes regarding removal of at-risk children from home, reunification and optimal duration of alternative care, children’s and parents’ participation in the decision-making process, and assessment of foster care and residential care, with the purpose of promoting children’s development and well-being. We concluded that both sets of participants (professionals and students) can be divided in two groups, one which is pro-removal and the other, which is less so. In comparison with students, professionals less often favour the removal of the child and more often defend reunification. There are no significant differences among participants regarding their opinion about the role of foster and residential care, and the participation of the child in the decision-making process. However, professionals tend to support parents’ participation in the decision-making process more than students do. Finally, we present some implications of our findings for the practice of child protection.

Author(s):  
Alan J. Dettlaff ◽  
Dana Hollinshead ◽  
Donald J. Baumann ◽  
John D. Fluke

When children come to the attention of the child welfare system, they become involved in a decision-making process in which decisions are made that have a significant effect on their future and well-being. The decision to remove children from their families is particularly complex, yet surprisingly little is understood about this decision-making process. As a result, instrumentation has been developed and adapted over the past 20 years to further understand variations in child welfare outcomes that are decision-based and, in particular concerning the removal decision, in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the intersecting factors that influence caseworker decisions. This chapter presents research and the development and use of this instrument, drawing from the decision-making ecology as the underlying rationale for obtaining the measures. The instrument was based on the development of decision-making scales used in multiple studies and administered to child protection caseworkers in several states. This effort is part of a larger program of research that seeks to better understand decision-making processes in child welfare systems in order to promote fairness, accuracy, and improved outcomes among children and families.


2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (3-4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Larsson ◽  
Elin Hultman

Children’s right to participation in decision-making within the Swedish Child Protection System. What does the UNConvention on the Rights of the Child and the legal framework mean in relation to the implementation in practice? This article is based on children’s right to participation which stems from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child – the Child Convention. Regarding decision-making processes within the Child Protection System children’s right to participation is explicitly stated. However, it is still not palpable and the interpretations regarding children’s right to participation may vary. This may give rise to various standpoints which in turn can have an impact on the magnitude of how the right isput into practice. Social science and social law research in Sweden has pointed out that children and young people do not participate sufficiently in parts of this process. This article describes and analyzes what has emerged in this research regarding children’s right to participation in connection with decision-making processes concerning out-of-home-placement with a particular focus on some of the circumstances that may impede the children’s right to participation. The article concerns how the right to participation is handled in practice and the importance of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the framework of the legal regulation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 643-656
Author(s):  
Вероника Александровна Одинокова ◽  
Майя Михайловна Русакова

The child’s right to be heard is a cornerstone of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Children growing up outside of their natural families particularly often find themselves in situations where this right should be fulfilled. In Russia, the child’s participation in decision-making at the time of their separation from their parents, and during their stay in the children’s homes, is often overlooked by both static monitoring and academic studies. In our study we raise the following research questions: To what extent is the right of a child separated from his or her natural parents to participate in decision-making respected? How does involvement in decision-making impact their psychosocial wellbeing? The study covered 215 children aged between ten and seventeen (mean age fourteen years) living in children’s homes in St. Petersburg. Our findings show that 42 % of children believe that they were not heard when the decisions affecting their interests were made. Talking with a social counsellor and having a trusted adult in the children’s home add to children’s perceptions that they have been heard. Limited participation in decision-making increases the odds of psychosocial difficulties in the binary logistic regression. We conclude that limited participation in decision-making negatively impacts the effectiveness of work with children and their psychosocial well-being. Since the degree and effectiveness of children’s participation depends primarily on the attitudes of professionals and their ability to create trusting relationships with children, a further increase in children’s participation will require a change in the professional paradigm of specialists. Specific methods for increasing the participation of children should be introduced in the daily practice of child welfare workers.


Author(s):  
Clive Diaz

This book presents new research on the extent to which parents and children participate in decision making when childcare social workers are involved and it considers two key meetings in depth: child protection conferences and child in care reviews. There is currently a great deal of interest in how social workers can work more effectively with families and in particular give children a voice. There is also considerable public and media interest in the child protection system, in particular relating to how children are safeguarded by social workers. This book will argue that unless we listen to (and act upon whenever possible) the views of children it is very difficult to safeguard and offer them an effective service. The unique selling point of the book will be that it is based on original solid empirical research following interviews with multiple stakeholders across two local authorities in England including children (n=75), parents (n=52), social workers (n=11, independent reviewing officers (n=8) and senior managers (n=7). This book will consider how 10 years of austerity has impacted on the child protection system and it will have a particular focus on how current practice leads to children and parents often feeling oppressed and excluded in decision making about their lives. The book promises to be authoritative and informed on issues on the ground and very relevant to both policy and practice.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 8-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Dolan ◽  
Nevenca Zegarac ◽  
Jelena Arsic

This paper considers Family Support as a fundamental right of the child. It examines the relationship between the well-being of the child as the core concept of contemporary legal and welfare systems and family as a vital institution in society for the protection, development and ensuring the overall well-being of the child. Considering the fact that international legal standards recognise that children’s rights are best met in the family environment, the paper analyses what kind of support is being provided to families by the modern societies in the exercising of children’s rights and with what rhetoric and outcomes. Family Support is also considered as a specific, theoretically grounded and empirically tested practical approach to exercising and protecting the rights of the child. Finally, international legal standards are observed in the context of contemporary theory and practice of Family Support, while the conclusion provides the implications of such an approach.


2014 ◽  
pp. 137-147
Author(s):  
Judith Aufenthie

Creating optimal well being is a multifaceted, complex process. It involves many biological, psychological, physical, behavioral, emotional as well as neurobiological factors which all interact and effect the choices we make and changes that we are able to implement. Research has begun to connect with the decision making process to better understand how our decisions and choices are made. This research coupled with research and evidence based models provides integrative nurses and patients with validated tools to optimize change and wellness.


2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ida Ayu Gede Rat Praba Ari ◽  
Dewi Puri Astiti

The use of health insurance is highly related with a person’s life depending on the perception of an individual and health belief model they own. Perception and health belief model bear an important role in determining how a person percieve their future especially related to health and older age well-being. One alternative in promising older age well being and health is through health insurance. This research was aimed to determine the role of individual perception upon insurance and health belief model in decision making process using life insurance. The method of this research is using quantitative method. The subjects of this research were the individuals using life insurance. The total subject in this research is 90 whom were selected using cluster random sampling.   For hypothesis, the data was analyzed using multiple regression. The result of multiple regression analysis in this study is 0.764. Relative contribution of perception variable is 98.38% and the health belief model variable is 1.61%. Effective contribution of perception variable is 57.45% and the health belief model variable is 0.94%. This results show that there is a relation between the role of individual perception upon insurance and health belief model in decision making process using life insurance. However, when the data was analyzed using partial correlation, only individual perception of insurance variable has a relation with decision making variable.   Keyword        : Perception, Health Belief Model, Life Insurance


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 209-226
Author(s):  
Mary Rogan

The case of Aranyosi and Căldăraru confirms that where prison conditions are so poor as to breach fundamental rights, the non-execution of an European Arrest Warrant is justified. Given the high stakes nature of such a decision, this article examines a critical question: What will be the possible sources of evidence which can and should be used in such an assessment? The article posits that prison inspection and monitoring bodies, which have the task of visiting prisons and reporting on them, with a view to the prevention of ill treatment, will take on an important role in this decision-making process. The article examines what this role might entail and the implications of the decision for prison inspection and monitoring bodies.


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