Social service systems for vulnerable children and families in low‐ and middle‐income countries: Establishing definitions and key components |
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| Authors: | Thomas M. Crea Andrew D. Reynolds Kelley McCreery Bunkers Caroline M. Bishop |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Boston College School of Social Work, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA;2. School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA;3. Children Project and Maestral International, Nairobi, Kenya;4. Vulnerable Children, Catholic Relief Services, Baltimore, MD, USA |
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| Abstract: | Systems strengthening in low‐ and middle‐income countries has long been a topic of concern in global health. By comparison, until very recently, little attention has been paid to the importance of strengthening social service systems to provide a holistic perspective of children's and families' multifaceted strengths and vulnerabilities. This study has reviewed existing literature on the definitions and components of social service systems and provides an analysis of data from key informants in the field of global social welfare. Based on this information, a set of key components is presented and compared, derived from the literature and expert interviews. Existing challenges for the field include establishing consensus on terminology and critical components, implementing and documenting critical components, and linking these components to client outcomes. |
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| Keywords: | child protection child welfare services and systems international social work systems of care management leadership organizational change social policy/social welfare policy qualitative research Global south/developing countries |
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