Child abuse is an ongoing issue here in New Zealand, and it is our role as adults, as people, to help reduce this social justice issue. Child protection professionals particularly, have a huge role in directly working with children and families and it is important to fully understand the knowledge and skills they need to have in order to be effective.
Child protection professionals are a vital part of protecting children, changing their lives and of intervention. According to Statistics New Zealand (2010), there are approximately 892,000 children under 15 in New Zealand, and they account for 20 percent of the whole population. With these statistics, it was found that one out of four of these children live in a medium to high-risk households; …show more content…
The ability to do this shows families that Child Protection professionals also value their decisions and what they have to say, which is important for families and will be more likely to engage and participate (Connolly & Morris, 2012). Families know more about their own families and what the most suitable way to handle their situation is more than anyone and all families have different communication styles (Gallagher, 2011). This is important for Child Protection professionals to recognize and understand in order for them to advice and guide families in the best way that suits them, which also means that it is important for Child Protection professionals to have good listening and communication skills (Connolly & Morris, 2012). Families are the experts, not the professionals and being able to work as a team with children and families is important. According to Gallagher et al. (2011), family engagement is a form of participation where family members can contribute in directing and framing social work processes. The Family Group Conference model was seen as the most innovative in bringing families and extended families together (Connolly & Morris, 2012). The Family Group Conference is a meeting in which all members of the family, and extended family are invited to join and participate, and …show more content…
Bronfenbrenner’s ecological perspective takes all factors and systems into account, such as the micro, meso, exo, and macrosystem (Bronfenbrenner, 1979, as cited Swick & Williams, 2006). This model provides a multifactorial base and explanation, and it also takes all factors into account then can be associated and interconnected with certain issues and situations (Swick & Williams, 2006). It is important for professionals to have an ecological perspective, as it helps them understand that there are multiple causes to their client’s problems, and that these contributing factors may be connected with each other (Swick & Williams, 2006). Having an ecological perspective gives professionals the understanding of the child and the families’ background more, which can help them provide better interventions and services. It is also important to not solely focus on the risks and must not be focused on deficits, but more importantly the positives, which is the strengths perspective (Gallagher et al., 2011). Child protection professionals who have the strengths perspective appreciate and acknowledge families’ strengths, abilities and experiences (Sharry, 2003). Professionals will have practice and strategies that are empowerment and strengths based, which is very effective in working with families, as you
Child protection professionals are a vital part of protecting children, changing their lives and of intervention. According to Statistics New Zealand (2010), there are approximately 892,000 children under 15 in New Zealand, and they account for 20 percent of the whole population. With these statistics, it was found that one out of four of these children live in a medium to high-risk households; …show more content…
The ability to do this shows families that Child Protection professionals also value their decisions and what they have to say, which is important for families and will be more likely to engage and participate (Connolly & Morris, 2012). Families know more about their own families and what the most suitable way to handle their situation is more than anyone and all families have different communication styles (Gallagher, 2011). This is important for Child Protection professionals to recognize and understand in order for them to advice and guide families in the best way that suits them, which also means that it is important for Child Protection professionals to have good listening and communication skills (Connolly & Morris, 2012). Families are the experts, not the professionals and being able to work as a team with children and families is important. According to Gallagher et al. (2011), family engagement is a form of participation where family members can contribute in directing and framing social work processes. The Family Group Conference model was seen as the most innovative in bringing families and extended families together (Connolly & Morris, 2012). The Family Group Conference is a meeting in which all members of the family, and extended family are invited to join and participate, and …show more content…
Bronfenbrenner’s ecological perspective takes all factors and systems into account, such as the micro, meso, exo, and macrosystem (Bronfenbrenner, 1979, as cited Swick & Williams, 2006). This model provides a multifactorial base and explanation, and it also takes all factors into account then can be associated and interconnected with certain issues and situations (Swick & Williams, 2006). It is important for professionals to have an ecological perspective, as it helps them understand that there are multiple causes to their client’s problems, and that these contributing factors may be connected with each other (Swick & Williams, 2006). Having an ecological perspective gives professionals the understanding of the child and the families’ background more, which can help them provide better interventions and services. It is also important to not solely focus on the risks and must not be focused on deficits, but more importantly the positives, which is the strengths perspective (Gallagher et al., 2011). Child protection professionals who have the strengths perspective appreciate and acknowledge families’ strengths, abilities and experiences (Sharry, 2003). Professionals will have practice and strategies that are empowerment and strengths based, which is very effective in working with families, as you