Journal of Family Therapy, 43(3), 2021, pp.458-468.
Publisher:
Wiley
This article explores the possibilities of a systemic approach in the support of parents whose children are placed in public care. The article is based on a qualitative study interviewing six parents who have received support from Norwegian Family Counselling Services (FCS) and seven systemic family therapists from FCS. Both groups were interviewed individually and in focus groups. The findings suggest that parents experienced less judgement from therapists in FCS than from caseworkers in CPS. Even if it could be challenging, the systemic therapists found a systemic approach useful to help parents develop agency and make meaning of their lives, as the parents struggled to have agency and understand why their children were placed in care. The article concludes that systemic approaches can
(Edited publisher abstract)
This article explores the possibilities of a systemic approach in the support of parents whose children are placed in public care. The article is based on a qualitative study interviewing six parents who have received support from Norwegian Family Counselling Services (FCS) and seven systemic family therapists from FCS. Both groups were interviewed individually and in focus groups. The findings suggest that parents experienced less judgement from therapists in FCS than from caseworkers in CPS. Even if it could be challenging, the systemic therapists found a systemic approach useful to help parents develop agency and make meaning of their lives, as the parents struggled to have agency and understand why their children were placed in care. The article concludes that systemic approaches can be useful in these cases, combined with appropriate child protection interventions as necessary.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
systems approach, families, parents, looked after children;
STUDSROD Ingunn, ELLINGSEN Ingunn T., WILLUMSEN Elisabeth
Journal article citation:
European Journal of Social Work, 19(6), 2016, pp.946-962.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
There is limited research exploring parents' views and understanding of referrals to the child-welfare services (CWS). This study explores parents' understanding of the circumstances leading to a child-welfare referral, and their understanding of the reporter's objectives in making the referral. Qualitative content analysis and frequency analysis was performed on open-ended survey responses from a sample of 683 Norwegian parents in contact with the CWS. The results showed that the majority (60.2%) of the parents perceived the referral to be initiated solely because of parental difficulties and multiple family life stressors. Some of the parents (22.8%) believed the referrals were initiated exclusively because of their children's problems, whereas a few (13.3%) perceived it to be a combination of parental/familial difficulties and children's problems. The findings reveal that close to half of the parents (46.4%) felt the objective of the person making the referral was to help the child, their parents and the family. Some (36.5%) saw it as a routine or mandated action by public or official services, while others (18.7%) reported that they did not know why referrals had been made, or gave no answer to the question. A small group of parents (6%) viewed the referral as an act of harassment. The main implications of these findings are discussed.
(Publisher abstract)
There is limited research exploring parents' views and understanding of referrals to the child-welfare services (CWS). This study explores parents' understanding of the circumstances leading to a child-welfare referral, and their understanding of the reporter's objectives in making the referral. Qualitative content analysis and frequency analysis was performed on open-ended survey responses from a sample of 683 Norwegian parents in contact with the CWS. The results showed that the majority (60.2%) of the parents perceived the referral to be initiated solely because of parental difficulties and multiple family life stressors. Some of the parents (22.8%) believed the referrals were initiated exclusively because of their children's problems, whereas a few (13.3%) perceived it to be a combination of parental/familial difficulties and children's problems. The findings reveal that close to half of the parents (46.4%) felt the objective of the person making the referral was to help the child, their parents and the family. Some (36.5%) saw it as a routine or mandated action by public or official services, while others (18.7%) reported that they did not know why referrals had been made, or gave no answer to the question. A small group of parents (6%) viewed the referral as an act of harassment. The main implications of these findings are discussed.
(Publisher abstract)
Child and Family Social Work, 17(1), February 2012, pp.75-84.
Publisher:
Wiley
Little attention has been given to how suspicion of CSA affects the conditions for parenting practice, in spite of a large body of literature that identifies and examines many aspects of child sexual abuse (CSA). This paper presents the findings of an exploratory study on parenting in the midst of suspicion of CSA. Data were drawn from in-depth interviews with 19 parents. All parents were
Little attention has been given to how suspicion of CSA affects the conditions for parenting practice, in spite of a large body of literature that identifies and examines many aspects of child sexual abuse (CSA). This paper presents the findings of an exploratory study on parenting in the midst of suspicion of CSA. Data were drawn from in-depth interviews with 19 parents. All parents were recruited by a multidisciplinary team from within a Norwegian county. Five of these had been accused of CSA. Specific parenting conditions during CSA suspicion were identified. Six analytic categories were developed: uncertainty concerning abuse; dilemmas on protection; changes in parent-child relationships; changes in the natural support network; dependency upon professional competence; and severe emotional strain. The results are suggested as a tool for identifying themes in order to support and strengthen parenting in ensuring the safety and well-being of children in these kinds of situations. The authors concluded that professional contributions should be adjusted according to the insight shown in this study.
Subject terms:
parenting, parents, child protection, child sexual abuse;
Australian Social Work, 64(4), December 2011, pp.443-458.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
This paper describes important feature of the Norwegian Child Welfare Services (CWS), and discusses possible outcomes and implications for children and parents. It starts with a short overview of the Norwegian child welfare policies, and the legal and organisational arrangements of the CWS. Two sources of data are then used to describe the characteristics of the children and parents receiving services. The first was aggregated data derived from Statistics Norway (SSB). The second was data from a recent study of interviews of 715 parents in contact with CWS. These data show that Norway's programme orientation is on support, prevention, and early intervention. Most of the parents agreed to contact CWS, and reported high levels of satisfaction. The system is largely successful in responding
This paper describes important feature of the Norwegian Child Welfare Services (CWS), and discusses possible outcomes and implications for children and parents. It starts with a short overview of the Norwegian child welfare policies, and the legal and organisational arrangements of the CWS. Two sources of data are then used to describe the characteristics of the children and parents receiving services. The first was aggregated data derived from Statistics Norway (SSB). The second was data from a recent study of interviews of 715 parents in contact with CWS. These data show that Norway's programme orientation is on support, prevention, and early intervention. Most of the parents agreed to contact CWS, and reported high levels of satisfaction. The system is largely successful in responding to the variety of needs that CWS clients experience. The survey data showed that families in contact with CWS are different to the general population in important ways, including family structure/demographics, socioeconomic characteristics, and physical and mental health. The article concludes that the Norwegian CWS is largely successful in responding to the welfare needs of vulnerable and marginalised families.
Subject terms:
parents, prevention, child protection, early intervention;
European Journal of Social Work, 24(4), 2021, pp.683-695.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Few studies have explored caseworkers’ perspectives on children’s safety and emotional wellbeing in high-conflict families. Based on focus group and individual interviews with 31 Norwegian child protection services staff, this research concentrated on caseworkers’ assessments when they worry about the intensity of interparental conflicts and their ability to identify the right thresholds for interventions. While the participants agree that excessive conflict is a significant risk factor for children, the findings demonstrate that caseworkers have difficulty assessing the gravity of conflict and potential harmful effects on children, especially when the conflicts are the main cause for concern about the children’s wellbeing. This challenge is related to these professionals’ trouble with understanding how much parents’ behaviours towards each other are normal post-marital conflict and how disputes can affect parenting abilities. The results also show that caseworkers, despite long-lasting concerns, tend not to make care order applications to social welfare boards even if this step is considered. The conclusions include that parents’ higher socio-economic status denotes resilience, overshadowing intense conflict as a risk factor for children’s wellbeing. This perspective combines with the difficult task of deciding what constitutes emotional neglect versus poor parenting abilities to influence caseworkers’ discretionary reasoning and professional convictions.
Few studies have explored caseworkers’ perspectives on children’s safety and emotional wellbeing in high-conflict families. Based on focus group and individual interviews with 31 Norwegian child protection services staff, this research concentrated on caseworkers’ assessments when they worry about the intensity of interparental conflicts and their ability to identify the right thresholds for interventions. While the participants agree that excessive conflict is a significant risk factor for children, the findings demonstrate that caseworkers have difficulty assessing the gravity of conflict and potential harmful effects on children, especially when the conflicts are the main cause for concern about the children’s wellbeing. This challenge is related to these professionals’ trouble with understanding how much parents’ behaviours towards each other are normal post-marital conflict and how disputes can affect parenting abilities. The results also show that caseworkers, despite long-lasting concerns, tend not to make care order applications to social welfare boards even if this step is considered. The conclusions include that parents’ higher socio-economic status denotes resilience, overshadowing intense conflict as a risk factor for children’s wellbeing. This perspective combines with the difficult task of deciding what constitutes emotional neglect versus poor parenting abilities to influence caseworkers’ discretionary reasoning and professional convictions.
NAG Heidi Elisabeth, HOXMARK Lise Beate, NAERLAND Terje
Journal article citation:
Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 23(3), 2019, pp.359-372.
Publisher:
Sage
Place of publication:
London
The experience of having a rare disorder was summarised in a large study as ‘falling outside the vast field of knowledge of the professionals’. Parents (31 mothers and 17 fathers) of 32 persons with Smith–Magenis syndrome (SMS) participated in this study. A phenomenological approach was used to analyse the data into topics and themes. Four themes emerged: behavioural challenges displayed, parents’ strategies for meeting the challenging behaviours, parents’ experiences of their own competence and parents’ experiences of professionals’ competence and understanding regarding children with SMS and their behaviour challenges. This study found that parents of children with SMS experience that they are exposed to severe challenging behaviours from their child. The parents believe
(Edited publisher abstract)
The experience of having a rare disorder was summarised in a large study as ‘falling outside the vast field of knowledge of the professionals’. Parents (31 mothers and 17 fathers) of 32 persons with Smith–Magenis syndrome (SMS) participated in this study. A phenomenological approach was used to analyse the data into topics and themes. Four themes emerged: behavioural challenges displayed, parents’ strategies for meeting the challenging behaviours, parents’ experiences of their own competence and parents’ experiences of professionals’ competence and understanding regarding children with SMS and their behaviour challenges. This study found that parents of children with SMS experience that they are exposed to severe challenging behaviours from their child. The parents believe that they experience more misunderstandings with professionals and that the challenging behaviours increase because there are some specific characteristics of SMS that professionals are not aware of or do not consider in their support services.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
parents, learning disabilities, challenging behaviour, qualitative research, user views;
This article challenges the use of the concept of avoidance as dysfunctional in parenting, and questions research on parental coping practices in isolation from context. Sixteen parents with children with more or less behaviour problems were selected for analysis from a Norwegian research study. The concept avoidance strategy constituted the analytical theme in situations associated with stress, and parents’ meaning making was the focus of analysis. Parental coping is not only related to internal processes, but also to the risk or opportunities in the social systems. All parents use avoidance actions in various ways, which may also be seen as adaptive and proactive actions. The meaning of age, gender, living conditions, social support, and the parents’ resources are significant in the framing
(Edited publisher abstract)
This article challenges the use of the concept of avoidance as dysfunctional in parenting, and questions research on parental coping practices in isolation from context. Sixteen parents with children with more or less behaviour problems were selected for analysis from a Norwegian research study. The concept avoidance strategy constituted the analytical theme in situations associated with stress, and parents’ meaning making was the focus of analysis. Parental coping is not only related to internal processes, but also to the risk or opportunities in the social systems. All parents use avoidance actions in various ways, which may also be seen as adaptive and proactive actions. The meaning of age, gender, living conditions, social support, and the parents’ resources are significant in the framing of family life. It is significant to stretch the concept ‘normality’ to include more variation and diversity. By bringing in knowledge from ‘normal’ parenting processes into clinical practice, clinical cases may not always seem clinical.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Social Work in Mental Health, 11(1), 2013, pp.75-97.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
This article aims at achieving insight into acquiring an understanding of parenting while dealing with one's own bipolar disorder in Norway. It is based on results from in-depth interviews of six parents with bipolar disorder. The Findings indicated that the parents experienced diverse, complex, compound, and demanding challenges. However, the results also highlighted the fact that parents went through a change and growth process, in which they developed an experience-based competence perceived as being useful due to their living situation, including the strengthening of their parenting function and their personal recovery process. Aspects about how the time dimension in recovery, as well as how parents' dependence on their children can play both a central and paradoxical role in their lives,
This article aims at achieving insight into acquiring an understanding of parenting while dealing with one's own bipolar disorder in Norway. It is based on results from in-depth interviews of six parents with bipolar disorder. The Findings indicated that the parents experienced diverse, complex, compound, and demanding challenges. However, the results also highlighted the fact that parents went through a change and growth process, in which they developed an experience-based competence perceived as being useful due to their living situation, including the strengthening of their parenting function and their personal recovery process. Aspects about how the time dimension in recovery, as well as how parents' dependence on their children can play both a central and paradoxical role in their lives, are discussed. Implications for the support system are discussed.
When a child develops cancer in the brain, the whole family is affected. The time when a proper diagnosis is made may be very difficult. When the cancer is diagnosed, the family must be prepared for the child to die. The symptoms of a brain tumour may be varied and frightening. The parents are vulnerable and need help to use their resources. They need a fixed point (a contact person) in their encounter with the hospital world. The must have help to talk about the situation with the sick child and with their health children. They need help to use their social network to cope with the situation. Both parents should receive detailed information about the disease, and both should be incorporated as much as possible in the treatment of the child. It is a professional challenge for the social
When a child develops cancer in the brain, the whole family is affected. The time when a proper diagnosis is made may be very difficult. When the cancer is diagnosed, the family must be prepared for the child to die. The symptoms of a brain tumour may be varied and frightening. The parents are vulnerable and need help to use their resources. They need a fixed point (a contact person) in their encounter with the hospital world. The must have help to talk about the situation with the sick child and with their health children. They need help to use their social network to cope with the situation. Both parents should receive detailed information about the disease, and both should be incorporated as much as possible in the treatment of the child. It is a professional challenge for the social worker and to be able to accept, understand, and endure mental pain in the work of helping the patient and the families.