‘Godt foreldreskap’ i middelklassefamilier: En narrativ posisjoneringsanalyse av norske barnevernsarbeideres fortellinger

This article investigates norms of parenting in the context of the Norwegian child welfare service (CWS). Research from both international and Norwegian contexts shows that current parenting ideals are built on middle-class values that are often taken for granted. However, there is limited knowledge about the interaction between the CWS and middle-class families. Through narrative positioning analysis, we explore how child welfare workers (CWWs) construct the identities of two middle-class families in contact with the service and how the CWWs’ ideals about parenting are expressed through these stories. Both families are positioned as well-off, and the CWWs provide classed and gendered descriptions of the parents that coincide with dominant narratives of intensive mothering. As clients, the parents are constructed as active adaptive agents and active expert agents. The CWWs relationally construct themselves as a catalyst for change and as a support. The analysis provides insight into how the middle-class ideal is almost unnoticeably being solidified as a standard, and we metaphorically see the interaction between the parents and the CWS as ‘status maintenance ceremonies’. We argue that a narrative positioning analytical framework can be further developed and used to increase reflection on social work practice and education.Denne artikkelen utforsker normer for foreldreskap i en norsk barnevernskontekst. Både internasjonal og norsk forskning viser at foreldreskapsidealer er bygget på middelklasseverdier som ofte tas for gitt. Samtidig finnes det begrenset kunnskap om interaksjonen mellom barnevernet og middelklassefamilier. Gjennom en narrativ posisjoneringsanalyse utforsker vi hvordan barnevernsarbeidere konstruerer identitetene til to middelklassefamilier som er i kontakt med tjenesten, og hvordan barnevernsarbeidernes idealer om foreldreskap uttrykkes gjennom disse narrativene. Analysen viser at begge familiene posisjoneres som ressurssterke, og barnevernsarbeiderne gir klassebaserte og kjønnede beskrivelser av foreldrene som samsvarer med dominerende normer for intensivt moderskap. Som klienter blir foreldrene konstruert som tilpasningsdyktige aktive aktører og aktive ekspertaktører. Barnevernsarbeiderne posisjonerer seg selv relasjonelt som katalysator for endring og som støtte. Analysen gir innsikt i hvordan middelklasseidealet nesten umerkelig blir konsolidert som en standard, og vi ser metaforisk på samhandlingen mellom foreldrene og barnevernsarbeiderne som ‘seremonier for opprettholdelse av status’ (‘Status maintenance ceremonies’). Vi argumenterer for at narrativ posisjoneringsanalyse kan videreutvikles og brukes for å øke refleksjonen i sosialt arbeid i praksis og utdanning

Family involvement in child welfare services: The association between socio-economic status and self-reported parenting practices

In child welfare policies, as in contemporary society in general, great attention has been given to parenting roles and investing in ‘positive’ parenting practices. Several studies have suggested that socio-economic factors frame parenting practices. There is broad evidence of a significant correlation between socio-economic inequalities and child welfare intervention rates. Nevertheless, few studies have investigated parenting practices in a child welfare population. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between socio-economic status (SES) and parenting practices in a Norwegian child welfare population. The study was based on a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2018–2019. The sample consisted of 256 parents (71.5% females). Linear regression analysis, adjusting for potential confounding and intermediate factors, was conducted. Lower SES was associated with higher levels of positive parenting/involvement practices (b = 0.146, CI: 0.026–0.266, P = 0.018), indicating an inverse pattern compared with the general population. When adjusting for symptoms of anxiety and depression, the association was slightly attenuated but remained statistically significant. No significant association was found between SES and inconsistent discipline/other disciplinary practices. The present study offers insights that should be useful in practice and further large-scale studies.publishedVersio

Decision making in child protection emergency cases in Norway

Background Research on decision-making factors in child protection emergency cases is scarce, and even less is known about factors that can avert emergency placement. Objective This study aims to explore factors that distinguish emergency cases that conclude in emergency placement (EP) from emergency cases that conclude in averted emergency placement (AEP). Participants and setting The study is based on data from an electronic survey on child protection emergency work, completed by a national sample of child protection leaders (N = 154). Method The survey included questions on external and organisational conditions of the Child Protection Service (CPS), as well as descriptions, activities and assessments related to selected emergency cases. Sixty-three of the selected cases were concluded with EP and ninety-one cases were concluded with AEP. Group differences between EP and AEP cases were analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses. Results The findings indicate that the case factor “violence at home/child abuse” and the CPS’s activity of “considering out-of-home measures” at initial assessment phase were significantly associated with EP. Activities like “home visits” and “contact with the network” were significantly associated with AEP. Crucial factors for decision-making according to the leaders were “parents’ opinion” and “resources in the network”, which were both significantly associated with AEP. Conclusions The study has identified several potential important factors for averting emergency placements. Building averting capability in CPS is important to avoid the huge relational and social costs of errors relating to EP decisions.publishedVersio

Norwegian Child Welfare Services: A Successful Program for Protecting and Supporting Vulnerable Children and Parents?

This paper describes and analyses the program of Child Welfare Services (CWS) in Norway, using primary sources, aggregated data from Statistics Norway (SSB) and data from a recent study of 715 parents in contact with CWS. These data show that Norway's program orientation is on support, prevention, and early intervention, policies relevant to the emerging Australian policy context. Many of these services were beneficial for the general welfare of the children's family with over three- quarters of the children registered as clients in the Norwegian CWS receiving only supportive services during 2008. On the contrary, Australian systems primarily aim to identify and protect children under (possible) risk of abuse or neglect. Also, the survey data shows 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 results demonstrated that most of the parents agreed to contact CWS, and many were satisfied with the help they received. The data demonstrate that the Norwegian CWS respond to the welfare needs of vulnerable and marginalised families. Possible implications the Norwegian system might have for the children and parents who are accessing services are discussed

Klasseblikk på et barnevern i vekst

Avhandlingen belyser hvordan klasse og status virker inn på forekomst av klientskap i barnevernet, og begrepene klasse og status brukes som mål på ulikhet. Med ulikhet forstås at noen individer og grupper har tilgang til flere goder og muligheter enn andre. Studien forsøker å integrere betydningen av klasseulikhet i forhold til mikronivået: hvordan vi tenker og handler, og samfunnsmessige strukturer: hva vi har og hvordan vi posisjonerer oss ut i fra det. Datamaterialet består av en tverrsnittsundersøkelse med 715 foreldre som har barn som var/er registrerte som klienter i barnevernet. I tillegg er det gjennomført gruppeintervju med 16 barnevernarbeidere fra 4 ulike barneverntjenester i Norge. Studien benytter også registerdata om barneverntjenestene i Norge og Australia. Analysen av barnevernfamilienes klassetilhørighet viser at det er tydelige klasseskiller som avtegner seg i barnevernet. Det er foretatt et analytisk skille mellom velferds – og kjernebarnevernet. Velferdsbarnevernet forstås som virksomhet myntet på å bedre barnas levekår jf. Lov om barneverntjenester § 4-4, første ledd, mens kjernebarnevernet handler om å beskytte barn fra omsorgssvikt jf. § 1-1 første ledd. Overrepresentasjonen av lave klasser er størst i det som kan betegnes som velferdsbarnevernet. Også i kjernebarnevernet finnes tydelige klasseforskjeller, blant annet i forhold til type tiltak og i grunnlaget for å iverksette tiltak overfor ulike klasselag. Analysene viser at det er i de prediktive beslutningene klasse betyr mest for forekomst av klientifisering. Det argumenteres for at klassebarnevernet henger sammen med en materiell – og moralsk dimensjon. Den materielle dimensjonen har betydning for hvorfor de laveste klassene i større grad ønsker kontakt med, og/eller blir meldt til barnevernet. Derfor bidrar den materielle dimensjonen ved klasse til at barnevernet kan komme i en sterkere maktposisjon overfor familier uten tilknytning til arbeidsmarked og arbeiderklassefamiliene. Betydningene av klasse for klientifisering i barnevernet knyttes til de ulike mandatene barnevernet har. Med andre ord handler klassebarnevernet i stor grad om hvilken sosialpolitikk som føres. Et sentralt mål i den norske familiepolitikken er å gi barn best mulige og like livssjanser. Funnene i denne studien tyder på at dette målet også gjennomsyrer utformingen av barnevernet. Barnevernet i Norge er i stadig vekst både i forhold til ressurser og antall barn med tiltak, og den største tilveksten skjer fordi antall barn med hjelpetiltak har økt vesentlig siden slutten av 1980-tallet. Veksten i barnevernet er ikke noe utpreget norsk fenomen. Også i langt mer nyliberalistiske stater, som i Australia, vokser barnevernet. Forskjellen ligger i at det er virksomheten i velferdsbarnevernet som i størst grad kan forklare veksten i det norske barnevernet. Denne siden av barnevernet er mindre utviklet i Australia enn i Norge. Med utgangspunkt i funnene, stilles det spørsmål ved om utviklingen i barnevernet er negativt eller positivt diskriminerende for ulike klasselag. På den ene siden kan barnevernets tiltak overfor arbeiderklassefamilier og familier uten arbeidstilknytning knyttes til et ønske om å bedre disse familiers levekår, og på den måten gi barnet bedre livssjanser. På den annen side kan en utvikling hvor de lave klassene klientifiseres være uttrykk for en sosialpolitikk som i mindre grad rommer kollektiv solidarite

A comparison of systems and outcomes for safeguarding children in Australia and Norway

Using aggregated national data, this paper compares outcomes of Australian 'child protection' (CP) and Norwegian 'child welfare services' (CWS). We highlight each nation's context and key elements of their CP/CWS organizations, with emphasis on policy and programme orientation. System outcomes are examined along with the implications of their different approaches. The main policy focus in Australia is protection and risk, while Norway's systemic approach stresses prevention, early intervention and support. These differences influence practitioner's intervention strategies and how the needs of children and parents are met. In Norway, approximately 80% of the children in the CWS receive some sort of supportive services. In contrast, Australian services for supporting families are narrowly targeted. Both countries share the 'best interest of the child' principle and an increased focus on children's rights, and have experienced increased service demands and rates of children in out-of-home care. The paper explores the relative merits of these systems

A comparison of systems and outcomes for safeguarding children in Australia and Norway

Using aggregated national data, this paper compares outcomes of Australian ‘child protection’ (CP) and Norwegian ‘child welfare services’ (CWS).We highlight each nation’s context and key elements of their CP/CWS organizations, with emphasis on policy and programme orientation. System outcomes are examined along with the implications of their different approaches. The main policy focus in Australia is protection and risk, while Norway’s systemic approach stresses prevention, early intervention and support. These differences influence practitioner’s intervention strategies and how the needs of children and parents are met. In Norway, approximately 80% of the children in the CWS receive some sort of supportive services. In contrast, Australian services for supporting families are narrowly targeted. Both countries share the ‘best interest of the child’ principle and an increased focus on children’s rights, and have experienced increased service demands and rates of children in out-of- home care. The paper explores the relative merits of these systems

Human Rights in Child Protection Rights-Based Practice and Marginalized Children in Child Protection Work

Our point of departure in this chapter is to ask whether the avowed aim of a preventative approach in child protection, with strategies that set out to avoid the very large moral and economic costs of placement outside the family, is at all well served by the prevailing distribution of child protection assistance to families and children. And how might rights-based, professional child protection work be of help? The chapter starts with a discussion of marginalization as a prevailing empirical characteristic used to describe families in contact with child protection services (CPS). After this, the focus shifts to a discussion of the role implementation of CRC can play, with the right to education (Articles 28, 29) as a concrete focus