Child custody placement outcomes for mothers

Internationally there is a broad literature on risks for child custody placements. In contrast, very little is known about their outcomes on parents. The topic is relevant not only for parents themselves but also for children placed outside their homes, as many children keep contact with their birth parents or return to live with them. In a retrospective cohort study setting we analyze child custody placement outcomes (social assistance receipt, unemployment and work disability) for mothers whose children had been taken into custody between 1997 and 2004 in Finland. Data from a child placement register were merged with several administrative social insurance registers. Comparison groups of population mothers are included in the study. The procedure yielded an internationally unique database. According to the results of our study, mothers whose children are taken into custody are more often unemployed and in need of social assistance than mothers in the comparison group. Furthermore, they are also more often on a disability pension, due to mental health problems in particular, than mothers in general. While considering the results, we examine family policy and general welfare policy implications of support to families whose children have been taken into custody.     

Access visits: Perceptions of child protection workers, foster parents and children who are Crown wards

Objective

To report findings from a study of the perceptions of foster parents, child protection workers and children regarding supervised access visits for children who are permanent wards (Crown wards).

Methods

Interviews were conducted with twenty-four Crown wards having regular supervised access visits. Eight focus groups were conducted with twenty-four foster parents, and twenty-six child protection workers. Interviews and focus groups explored perspectives regarding supervised access visits. Interviews and focus groups were transcribed, coded, and thematically analyzed. Negative case analysis, prolonged engagement, and triangulation contributed to the trustworthiness of the research.

Results

While this study is explorative, findings suggest considerable dissatisfaction regarding access visits among foster parents and workers, inadequate training for workers and foster parents, poor communication and consultation regarding access visits, and confusion regarding the roles of supervisors.

Conclusions

The data suggest several possible explanations for children's distress associated with access visits including lack of communication among access supervisors, workers and foster parents; insufficient training for workers who supervise visits; and a lack of validation of the children's contradictory feelings towards their mothers.

Practice implications

Findings suggest the need for more consultation with and inclusion of foster parents in access visits. More training is required for workers supervising access visits including whether and how it is beneficial for children to express their feelings and address potentially difficult topics regarding their biological family members.     

The Shift towards Family Reunification in Romanian Child Welfare Policy: An Analysis of Changing Forms of Governmental Intervention in Romania

This article examines the transition in Romanian child welfare policy from a paternalistic attitude of taking responsibility for ‘abandoned’ children to a capitalist orientation of reinstating responsibility for ‘abandoned’ children to the private sphere. While this shift in child policy is often seen to reflect a withdrawal of the public sphere from the private world of childcare, this study argues, alternatively, that this shift demonstrates a change in the form of governmental intervention. This article is based on ethnographic research that examines the reflections of Romanian child welfare professionals upon their changing roles.     

Conflict Resolution,Restorative Justice Approaches and Bullying in Young People’s Residential Units

Restorative justice has been an increasing feature in the discourses within adult and youth justice criminal justice systems in recent years. This article examines interpersonal conflicts arising from crime, bullying and antisocial behaviour in residential care, and the advantages and disadvantages of utilising such approaches in relation to these forms of conflict, based upon an evaluation of restorative principles and approaches from the perspectives of young people, residential workers and managers. The article sets out how the staff in the units studied modified restorative justice approaches to take into account the specific relationships within group care settings.     

中国城市社工与志愿者合作模式探析

社工与志愿者是城市社会管理创新的两支重要力量,近年来获得较快发展。但是,由于原来的管理体制分割、观念意识差异等影响,缺乏合作共享,削弱了社会服务的实效。最近,中国通过“第三方力量”的努力,建立“社工＋志愿者”合作的组织平台、资源体系,为城市社会管理提供更多的服务。     

新生代农民工职业培训现状及对策

新生代农民工职业培训是国家战略发展的必然选择,针对新生代农民工的职业培训仍然存在着信息不畅、内容针对性不强、管理缺乏整合、就业功能体现不足等问题,从微观角度提出重视＂三个结合＂,加强培训宣传;加强＂三个认识＂,突出培训的针对性;做好＂三个联动＂,增强管理的有序性;实现＂三个对接＂,促进就业程度等对策。     

我国农民工工伤保险立法疑难问题研究——以矿山行业为例

矿山行业是高危行业,然而该行业农民工工伤保险参保率畸低。对农民工工伤保险进行专门立法,是实现法律正义,维持法律秩序的必然要求。在监督方面,应规定监督主体的单一性;在举报制度上,应增设悬赏激励制度,并制订严格的保密措施;针对短期农民工,应规定当月汇报办理工伤保险制度;制定便利的工伤保险异地转移制度等。     

社区照顾理念下的社区老年人日间照料中心建设

从社区照顾的理念出发,探讨了完善我国社区老年人日间照料中心的建设问题。认为我国社区老年人日间照料中心的建设应该以生活部分自理的半失能老年人为服务对象,以向这些老人提供生活照料、保健康复、精神慰藉服务为功能定位,依据街妙社区内的人口总数与老龄化程度综合确定建设规模,房屋建设内容应包括生活服务、保健康复、休闲娱乐和辅助用房等。     

现代文学中的农民工书写

中国现代文学史上的一些乡土小说作品不仅展示了农民对城市生活的渴望．也写出了他们在城市谋生的物质与精神生活的痛苦,体现了作家对进城农民的悲悯情怀和道德批判意识,直接影响了当下的农民工书写．