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Thinking family? The complexities for family engagement in care and protection
- Author:
- MORRIS Kate
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Social Work, 42(5), 2012, pp.906-920.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Recent child welfare policy developments in the UK have highlighted the family as either the subject of intervention or the partner for change. However, policy and practice developments concerned with engaging families in care and protection planning are set within complex and, at times, contradictory policy drivers. This article draws primarily on 2 reviews of the practice evidence and the conclusions from a series of expert focus groups, held to explore the impact of the recent UK government guidance on care proceedings on family engagement, to consider emerging issues in researching and delivering family-minded policy and practice. The article begins by describing the focus of concern and then considers the challenges for family-focused research. The complex policy context is reviewed and, from this, issues for development in practice are considered. Throughout, family group decision making is used as an illustrative policy and practice example. The article concludes by setting out some of the questions for future developments in family engagement in care and protection.
The experiences of young witnesses in criminal proceedings in Northern Ireland: a report for the Department of Justice (NI)
- Authors:
- HAYES David, et al
- Publisher:
- Northern Ireland. Department of Justice
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 74p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Belfast
This study aimed to gather information on the experiences of young witnesses giving evidence in courts in Northern Ireland in order to inform policy and practice in this jurisdiction. The principal sources of information were: structured interviews with young prosecution witnesses who received a service from the NSPCC’s Young Witness Service (YWS) and their parent/carer; referral forms completed by YWS staff in relation to each young witness who agreed to participate in the study. These provided basic information about the nature of the case and the service provided by the YWS; and a survey questionnaire which was administered to all YWS volunteers and Children’s Services Practitioners (CSPs). Findings revealed that where pre‐trial support had been provided, 75% of young people and 78.9% of parents felt that there had been enough pre‐trial contact with the YWS and 85% of young people and 89.5% of parents said either that the supporter had made a lot of difference or that it was contact with the supporter that had made it possible for the young person to go to court.
Promoting American families: the role of state legislation
- Authors:
- SEIPLE Michael M. O., BROWN John
- Journal article citation:
- Families in Society, 89(2), April 2008, pp.174-182.
- Publisher:
- The Alliance for Children and Families
Families are still relevant to the well-being of individuals and of society, but diverse social events have changed the nature and function of families, and that has created a significant burden on families. To ascertain how each state in the US was promoting family life, 10 legislative indicators were examined. The findings of this study show that family policies in most states still lag behind the current rhetoric about supporting families. As a remedy, the authors recommend several strategies for facilitating positive legislation. These include a strengthening of the linkage between research and policy, as the right information is essential to how data is used in a political environment. Also, it is recommended that social workers and family policy practitioners should become more active agents of social change and lend support to community and civic organizations in shaping family policies. Families themselves should be encouraged to participate in the public dialogue, and policymakers should strive to view all potential policies from a family perspective.
Does the TANF work-first initiative help low-income families make successful welfare-to-work transitions?
- Authors:
- PARISI Domenico, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Poverty, 9(1), 2005, pp.65-81.
- Publisher:
- Routledge
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
A general argument is how states implement their TANF policy and the extent to which states build partnerships with local communities might affect the chances for low-income families to make a successful welfare-to-work transition. Using data gathered through a key-informant procedure, the authors find that many low-income families in Mississippi left the TANF rolls because the state implemented “front and back door” policy aimed at reducing caseloads rather than placing clients on a path to self-sufficiency. The results show that the state has failed to address the “true barriers” to work, such as a “mismatch” between training and available jobs, appropriate economic development and transportation and childcare needs. The results also indicate that shifting public responsibility to the clients and local communities will further compromise the well-being of many low-income families because, under TANF, they will pay the cost of their own disadvantage.
The future of community health services
- Editor:
- HUGHES Jane
- Publisher:
- King's Fund Centre
- Publication year:
- 1989
- Pagination:
- 42p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
Reports on a conference held in November 1988 which discusses the role of Family Practitioner Committees in the light of changes anticipated by the Government's response to Griffiths, and the Health Service White Paper.
Universal Credit: a Joseph Rowntree Foundation briefing
- Author:
- SCHMUECKER Katie
- Publisher:
- Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 14
- Place of publication:
- York
This briefing looks at the implementation of Universal Credit across the UK and provides recommendations on how the system could be improved. The report generally welcomes the introduction of Universal Credit, which brings together six separate benefits into one integrated payment, but highlights three priorities for action to ensure that Universal Credit is successful in reducing poverty. These are: a reduction in waiting times for Universal Credit, increasing the child element of Universal Credit so it is not limited to the first two children only, and for Universal Credit to provide employment support to help people into work. (Edited publisher abstract)
Where next for the Family Test?
- Author:
- CENTRE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE
- Publisher:
- Centre for Social Justice
- Publication year:
- 2016
- Pagination:
- 12
- Place of publication:
- London
Reports on the outcome of a Centre for Social Justice roundtable with policy experts to discuss ways in which the Government's Family Test can be strengthened in order to improve the impact that government policy has on the life and stability of families. The Family Test, introduced in by the Coalition Government in 2014, provides a way of assessing the likely impact of proposed policies on families, either directly or indirectly related to them. The paper recommended that Ministers ensure that the Family Test is an integral part of policy development and that officials need to collect better evidence for the ways in which policy can both positively and negatively families. It also highlights the role that third sector organisations can have in supporting government departments and providing relevant evidence. (Edited publisher abstract)
Keep us close: ensuring good, inclusive and accessible local services for disabled children and their families
- Authors:
- BRAWN Ellie, ROGERS Carena
- Publisher:
- SCOPE
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 24p.
- Place of publication:
- London
There are around 700,000 disabled children in England. Having access to necessary health, social care and educational services is especially important for families with disabled children. In August 2012, over 620 parents and carers of disabled children took part in the ‘keep us close’ survey about their experiences with accessing the support that they need. This report sets out the findings of this survey and discusses the challenges that families face in getting the support they need locally and the impact this has on their family lives. It describes the struggles that families with disabled children face to receive support. Around 6 in 10 parents said they were not able to get services that they and their child need in their local area, with many families finding that they are forced to travel to find support. These families want to use services such as childcare, short breaks, therapeutic services, and the right educational setting. The report concludes by welcoming the changes to be put in place through the Children and Families Bill, but argues that in its present form it will not guarantee good, inclusive and accessible local services for families. It calls on the Government to include the ‘Provide Local Principle’ in the Children and Families Bill.
The effects of single parenthood on educational aspiration: a comparative study of children in the United Kingdom and Hong Kong
- Authors:
- WANG Miao, NGAI Steven Sek-Yum
- Journal article citation:
- Child and Youth Services, 32(2), April 2011, pp.135-154.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This study examines the gap in the educational aspirations of children from single-parent families and two-parent families in the United Kingdom and Hong Kong. Policies to support the family differ between these 2 regions, with the UK providing much greater monetary and nonmonetary benefits for single-parent families. The data for this study was derived from the OECD’s Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2003 database. The survey participants were 15 year old students. Analysis shows that children in the UK have statistically significant lower levels of educational aspiration than those in Hong Kong. Moreover, children from single-parent families in the UK and Hong Kong are found to have statistically significant lower levels of educational aspiration than those from two-parent families. Further analyses indicate that family capital and school experience are important factors for understanding the negative effects of single parenthood. Single parenthood has a less negative effect on educational aspiration in the UK than it does in Hong Kong, lending support to the positive effect of UK government policy on single parenthood. Policy and service recommendations are suggested for improving children's educational aspiration and enhancing family well-being.
Valuing People: family matters ten years on
- Authors:
- COOPER Viv, WARD Cally
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 16(2), April 2011, pp.44-48.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
It is ten years since Valuing People promised a ‘new deal’ for family carers. Valuing People was explicitly concerned to ensure a cultural shift in the way services worked with and conceptualised the role of family carers. It included specific objectives for involving families in local partnership boards, providing better support for them in their caring role and investing in family leadership nationally, regionally and locally. This article considers why there was a need for a more family-focused approach to support. It then discusses the advances over the last decade towards meeting the objectives of Valuing People. It concludes that despite the positive policy developments it would be dangerous to be complacent; there is still a need to continue investing in families and people with learning disabilities to ensure that the gains of the past decade are not lost.