Links and Resources
Young peoples' experiences of CPS
Australia has a unique non-profit organization called the CREATE Foundation - - which is set up to provide support and a direct voice for young people in the Australian care system so they can influence governments and professionals. One example of their work sees young people involved with CREATE from every state attending all major professional child abuse and neglect conferences to influence, interact and speak with leading child protection professionals. I use CREATE young people to speak to the social workers I teach in Western Australia. Check out their website at www.create.org.au
Parents' experiences of CPS Family Rights Group in London
provides advice, support, advocacy and represents families whose children are involved with social services. Their website is www.frg.org.uk
Brief Therapy
For an introduction to Solution-focused Brief Therapy you can upload 3 papers Andrew wrote with Larry Hopwood which cover the first session Turnell & Hopwood SFBT1, second and subsequent sessions Turnell & Hopwood SFBT2 and what to do if you get stuck Turnell & Hopwood SFBT3. Papers available here.
Brief therapy thinking and skills are at the heart of the Signs of Safety approach – here are links to leading centres of brief therapy training and practice around the world:
The Brief Family Therapy Center in Milwaukee USA -- the home of solution-focused brief therapy, where Steve deShazer, Insoo Kim Berg and their colleagues have created the model. Their website provides access to many solution-focused books and training resources, including resources specific to the child protection task.
Harry and Jocelyn Korman are brief therapists and trainers in Sweden, their business is called SIKT and they are based in Malmo. I conduct an annual 5-day Signs of Safety intensive each March at their centre and other workshops during the year. Check out their home page.
The Brief Therapy Practice in London probably provide more training and consultation in Solution-focused Brief Therapy than any other organization anywhere. Chris Iveson, Evan George, Harvey Ratner, Yasmin Ajmal, Guy Shennan, Jane Lethem and Diana Iveson maintain an ongoing clinical practice and are continuing to grow the solution-focused model. A number of their group have extensive experience in social services and child welfare work. Their home page has details of training, consulting and therapy.
The Brief Therapy Institute of Sydney - www.brieftherapysydney.com.au - run by Michael Durrant would be the leading centre for brief therapy training in Australia. Michael has extensive experience in child welfare work and has written a book about residential care for children.
Karin Nordström and Ann Ternström in Stockholm through their business Danderydsteamet www.danderydsteamet.se provide brief therapy consultation and training services and consultation to teams using the Signs of Safety. Danderydsteamet host trainings by Andrew in Stockholm each September.
Dr Walter Oppenoorth from The Netherlands provides brief therapy training and resources through his website www.octir.nl The site also has for sale numerous DVD¹s from training Andrew has provided in Holland.
The European Brief Therapy Association website www.ebta.nu provides more information about brief therapy around the world and also offers wonderful practitioner-led conferences each year.
Strengths-based Practice in Child Protection
St Luke's in Bendigo, Australia has a long history of providing and describing strengths-based, client-centred, solution-focused, just child welfare practices. They have many publications and practical resources available, go to: www.stlukes.org.au
Family Group Conferencing
Family Group Conferencing or Family Group Decision Making as it is called in the US, is an approach to child protection conferencing that was born in New Zealand drawing upon Maori practices and puts the family and their network at the centre of decision-making. Family Group Conferencing is probably the most sustained and radical experiment in partnership-based child protection practice and is used in countries all over the world. The American Humane Association website offers an excellent introduction and many resources -www.americanhumane.org/pc_fgdm
Signs of Safety in Sweden
Tomas Embreus who has been using the Signs of Safety approach in Sweden for 6 years. As well as practicing as a child protection worker in Trollhatten he also provides training and consultation for other professionals. See www.embreus.se for more information
Strengths-based, Solution-focused and Signs of Safety References
The following reference list provides all the published material I am aware of offering ideas for the use of strengths-based, solution-focused and signs of safety approaches to the child protection task. If you know of publications of this sort not included in this list please contact me with the details and I will update the list. (I have not included Family Group Conference references as these are very extensive and can be easily accessed elsewhere, see above).
Berg, I. K., & Kelly, S. (2000). Building solutions in child protective services. New York: Norton.
Berg, I. K. (2000). What kind of questions in my initial assessment interview with generate solutions and enhance safety? In Howard Dubowitz and Diane DePanfilis (eds.) Handbook of child protection practice. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Berg, I. K., and De Jong, P. (2004). Building solution-focused partnerships in children’s protective and family services. Protecting Children, 19(2): 3–13.
Christianson, B. and Maloney, S. (2006) One family’s journey: a case study utilising complementary conferencing processes, Protecting Children, 21: 31-37.
de Boer, C. & Coady, N. (2007) Good helping relationships in child welfare: learning from stories of success, Child & Family Social Work 12 (1), 32–42.
De Jong, P. & Berg, I.K. (2001). Co-constructing cooperation with mandated clients, Social Work, 46,4: 361-375.
De Jong, P., Jiordano, M., Cowan, D. & Kelly, S. (Accessed 20/08/07). Solution-focused strategies in child welfare: promoting family inclusion and supportive staff development in a solution focused framework. Available at: http://muskie.usm.maine.edu/helpkids/telefiles/5.25.06.pdf
DePanfilis, D. (2000). How do I assess the strengths in families? In Howard Dubowitz and Diane DePanfilis (eds.) Handbook of child protection practice. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Elliot, B., Mulroney, L. & O’Neil, D. (2000). Promoting family change: the optimism factor. Sydney: Allen and Unwin.
Ferguson, H. (2001). Promoting child protection, welfare and healing: the case for developing best practice. Child and Family Social Work, 6, 1-12.
Ferguson, H. (2003). Outline of a critical best practice perspective for social work and social care. British Journal of Social Work 33: 1005 – 1024.
Fleming, J. (1998). Valuing families in statutory practice. Child Abuse Prevention, 6(1): 1-4.
Healy, K. (2005). Social work theories in context; creating frameworks for practice, London: Palgrave.
Hogg, V. & Wheeler, J. (2004) Miracles R them: solution-focused practice in a social services duty team. Practice, 16(4): 299-314.
Jack, R. (2005). Strengths-based practice in statutory care and protection work. In Mary Nash, Robyn Munford and Kieran O’Donoghue (eds.) Social work theories in action. London: Jessica Kingsley.
Lohrbach, S., & Sawyer, R. (2003). Family Group Decision Making: a process reflecting partnership-based practice, Protecting Children, 19(2): 12-15.
Lohrbach, S., & Sawyer, R. (2004). Creating a constructive practice: family and professional partnership in high-risk child protection case conferences, Protecting Children, 19(2): 26-35.
Lohrbach, S., Sawyer, R., Saugen, J., Astolfi, C., Worden, P. & Xaaji, M. (2005). Ways of working in child welfare practice: a perspective on practice, Protecting Children, 20(1): 26-35.
Madsen, W. (2007). Collaborative therapy with multi-stressed families: from old problems to new futures (2nd Edition). New York: Guildford.
Murphy, E. (2000). A solution-focused approach to working in partnership with young people and families. In Ann Wheal (ed.) Working with parents: learning from other people’s experience. London: Russell House Publishing.
Myers S. (2005). A signs of safety approach to assessing children with sexually concerning or harmful behaviour. Child Abuse Review 14: 97-112.
Mylan, T., & Lethem, J. (1999). Searching for strengths in child protection assessment: from guidelines to practice. London: BT Press.
O’Neil, D. & McCashen, W. (1991). Competency based family support: brief therapy as a tool in goal setting and family valuing in child protection work: Family Therapy Case Studies, 6(2): 3-12.
O’Neil, D. (2006). How can a strengths approach increase safety in a child protection context? Children Australia, 30(4): 28-32
Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (accessed 20/08/07). “Presuming the positive" as part of strengths-based treatment in working with children and families. Available at: www.dpw.state.pa.us/Child/BehavHealthServChildren/ChildAdolescentGuidelines/003670805.htm
Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (accessed 20/08/07). Strengths-based treatment of children: what it is and what it isn't. Available at: www.dpw.state.pa.us/Child/BehavHealthServChildren/ChildAdolescentGuidelines/003670718.htm
Rymarchyk, G. (2000). Solution-focused interventions in child protective investigation: a promising alternative for working with families. Phd Thesis, Cornell University.
Scott, D., & O'Neil, D. (1996). Beyond child rescue: developing family-centred practice at St Lukes. Sydney: Allen and Unwin.
Shennan, G. ‘Doing it in child protection’ Solution News 2(3): 15-19. Available at
http://www.solution-news.co.uk/issues/solutionnews2(3).pdf
Söderquist, M. & Suskin-Holmqvist, A. (2006). Delacktighet. Stockholm: Mareld.
Teoh, A.H., Laffer, J., Parton, N. & Turnell, A. (2003). Trafficking in meaning: Constructive social work in child protection practice. In C. Hall, K. Juhila, N. Parton, & T. Pösö (Eds.), Client as practice. London: Jessica Kingsley.
Turnell, A. & Edwards, S. (1997). Aspiring to partnership: The signs of safety approach to child protection casework, Child Abuse Review, 6: 179 - 190.
Turnell, A. & Edwards, S. (1999). Signs of safety: a solution and safety oriented approach to child protection casework. New York: Norton.can
Turnell, A., Elliott, S. & Hogg, V. (2007). Compassionate, safe and rigorous child protection practice with parents of adopted children. Child Abuse Review 16(2): 108-119.
Turnell A. & Essex S. (2006). Working with situations of ‘denied’ child abuse: the Resolutions approach. Buckingham: Open University Press.
Turnell A., Lohrbach, S and Curran, S. (Forthcoming). Working with the ‘involuntary client’ in child protection: lessons from successful practice. In M. Calder (Ed.) The carrot or the stick? Towards effective practice with involuntary clients, London: Russell House Publishing.
Turnell, A. (2004). Relationship-grounded, safety-organised child protection practice: Dreamtime or real-time option for child welfare? Protecting Children, 19(2): 14–25.
Turnell, A. (2006). Constructive Child Protection Practice: An Oxymoron or News of Difference? Journal of Systemic Therapies 25(2): 3-12.
Turnell, A. (2006). Tecken på säkerhet - Signs of Safety på svenska. In M. Söderquist. & A. Suskin-Holmqvist, A. (Eds.), Delaktighet - Lösningsfokuserat förhållningssätt i utredningsarbete. Stockholm: Mareld.
Turnell A. (Forthcoming Summer 2007). Solution-focused brief therapy: thinking and practicing beyond the therapy room. In F. Thomas and T. Nelson (Eds.), Clinical Applications of Solution-focused Brief Therapy, Bimmington: Haworth Press USA.
Turnell A. (In press). Building safety in child protection practice: working from a strengths perspective. London: Palgrave.
Walsh, T. (1997). Solution-focused child protection – towards a positive frame for social work practice. Department of Social Studies Occasional Paper no.6, Trinity College, Dublin.
Walsh, T. (2006). Two sides of the same coin: ambiguity and complexity in child protection social work, Journal of Systemic Therapies, 25(2): 38-49.
Weakland, J. & Jordon, L. (1992). Working briefly with reluctant clients: child protections services as an example. Journal of Family Therapy, 14: 231-254. This classic paper is available free at: http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/toc/joft/14/3
Service Recipient Research References
The following reference list provides information of all the published research I am aware of that describes child protection service recipients experience of child protection services. If you know of publications of this sort not included in this list please contact me with the details and I will update the list.
Anderson, K. (1998) A Canadian child welfare agency for urban Natives: the clients speak. Child Welfare, 77, 441–460.
Andersson, G. (1999). Children in permanent fostercare in Sweden. Child and Family Social Work, 4, 175-186.
Aubrey, C. & Dahl, S. (2006), Children’s voices; the views of vulnerable children on their service providers and the relevance of services they receive, British Journal of Social Work, 36, 21-39.
Bell, M. (2002). Promoting children's rights through the use of relationship, Child and Family Social Work, 7, 1-11.
Callahan, M. & Lumb, C. (1995) My cheque and my children: the long road to empowerment in child welfare. Child Welfare, 73, 795–819.
Cameron, G. & Hoy, S. (2003) Stories of mothers and child welfare. Partnerships for Children and Families Project, Faculty of Social Work, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON. Available at: http://www.wlu.ca/docsnpubs_detail.php?grp_id=1288&doc_id=7211
Cashmore, J. (2002) Promoting the participation of children and young people in care. Child Abuse and Neglect, 26: 837-847.
Cashmore, J. and Paxman, M. (2006), Predicting after care outcomes: the importance of ‘felt’ security, Child and Family Social Work, 11: 232-241.
Christianson, B. and Maloney, S. (2006) One family’s journey: a case study utilising complementary conferencing processes, Protecting Children, 21: 31-37.
Cleaver, H. & Freeman, P. (1995). Parental perspectives in cases of suspected child abuse. London: HSMO.
D'Arcy Pope, J. (2007). Staying connected and holding onto hope: a community document created by three mothers who have been separated from their children due to statutory child protection intervention.
Developing Practice: The Child, Youth and Family Work. 18: 12-20.
Dale, P. (2004). ‘Like a fish in a bowl’: parents perceptions of child protection services. Child Abuse Review, 13: 137-157.
de Boer, C. & Coady, N. (2003) Good Helping Relationships in Child Welfare: Co-authored Stories of Success. Partnerships for Children and Families Project, Faculty of Social Work, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON. Available at: http://www.wlu.ca/documents/7214/Good_Helping_Relationships.pdf
de Boer, C. & Coady, N. (2007) Good helping relationships in child welfare: learning from stories of success, Child & Family Social Work 12 (1), 32–42.
Drake, B. (1994) Relationship competencies in child welfare services. Social Work, 39, 595–602.
Drake, B. (1996) Consumer and worker perceptions of key child welfare competencies. Children and Youth Services Review, 18, 261–279.
Dumbrill, G. (2006) Parental experiences of child protection intervention: a qualitative study. Child Abuse and Neglect, 30: 27-37.
Farmer, E. (1993). The impact of child protection interventions: The experiences of parents and children. In L. Waterhouse (Ed.), Child abuse and child abuses: protection and prevention. London: Jessica Kingsley.
Farmer, E. & Owen, M. (1995). Child protection practice: private risks and public remedies. London: HSMO.
Farmer, E. & Pollock, S. (1998). Substitute care for sexually abused and abusing children, Chichester: Wiley.
Ferguson, H. & O’Reilly, M. (2001). Keeping children safe: child abuse, child protection and the promotion of welfare, Dublin: A and A Farmar.
Fine, M. & Mandell, D. (2003) Family talk: Parents and children involved with the child welfare and children's mental health systems. Partnerships for Children and Families Project, Faculty of Social Work, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON. Available at: http://www.wlu.ca/docsnpubs_detail.php?grp_id=1288&doc_id=7218
Freymond, N. (2003) Mothers' everyday realities and child placement experiences. Partnerships for Children and Families Project, Faculty of Social Work, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON. Available at: http://www.wlu.ca/docsnpubs_detail.php?grp_id=1288&doc_id=7217
Gibbons, J., Gallagher, B., Bell, C. & Gordon, D. (1995). Development after physical abuse in early childhood: a follow-up study of children on protection registers. London: HSMO.
Gilligan, R. (2000). The importance of listening to the child in foster care. In G. Kelly & R. Gilligan (Eds.), Issues in foster care: policy, practice and research, London: Jessica Kingsley.
Graber, L., Keys, T. & White, J. (1996). Family group decision-making in the United States: The case of Oregon. In J. Hudson, A. Morris, G. Maxwell & B. Galaway (Eds.), Family Group Conferences. Monsey: Willow Tree Press.
Hill, M. (1995). The views of young people about care and social work services, Child Care in Practice, 2, 49-59.
Huebner, R., Jones, B., Miller, V. & Critchfield, M. (2006). Comprehensive family services and customer satisfaction outcomes, Child Welfare 85(4), 691-715.
Huebner, R., Werner, M., Hartwig, S., White, S. & Shewa, D. (In Press). Engaging fathers: needs and satisfaction in child protective services, Administration in Social Work.
Jensen, T., Gulbrandsen, W., Mossige, S. Reichelt, S. and Tjersland, O. (2005), Reporting possible sexual abuse: A qualitative study on children's perspectives and the context for disclosure Child Abuse & Neglect, 29(12), 1395-1413.
Littell, J.H. (2001) Client participation and outcome of intensive family preservation services. Social Work Research, 25, 103–113.
MacKinnon, L. (1998). Trust and Betrayal in the Treatment of Child Abuse. New York: Guildford Press.
Magura, S., & Moses, B. (1984). Clients as evaluators in child protective services, Child Welfare, 63(2): 99-112.
Maiter, S., Palmer, S., & Manji, S. (2003). Invisible lives: The experiences of parents receiving child protective services (CPS), Partnerships for Children and Families Project, Faculty of Social Work, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON. Available at: http://www.wlu.ca
Messing J. (2006). From the child's perspective: A qualitative analysis of kinship care placements, Children and Youth Services Review 28 (12): 1415-1434.
Monck, E. & New, M. (1995). Sexually abused children and adolescents and young perpetrators of sexual abuse who were treated in voluntary community facilities. London: HSMO.
Mudaly, N. and Goddard, C. (2006). The truth is longer than a lie: children's experiences of abuse and professional interventions, London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Munro, E. (2001). Empowering looked-after children. Child and Family Social Work, 6: 129-137.
Prior, V., Lynch, A. and Glaser, D. (1999). Responding to child sexual abuse: an evaluation of social work by children and their carers, Child and Family Social Work, 4, 131-143.
Sharland, E., Jones, D., Aldgate, J., Seal, H. & Croucher, M. (1995). Professional intervention in child sexual abuse. London: HSMO.
Söderquist, M. & Suskin-Holmqvist, A. (2006). Delacktighet. Stockholm: Mareld.
Teoh, A. H., Laffer, J., Parton, N., & Turnell A. (2003). Trafficking in meaning: constructive social work in child protection practice. In Chris Hall, Kirsi Juhila, Nigel Parton and Tarja Pösö (Eds.), Client as Practice, Jessica Kingsley, London.
Thoburn, J., Lewis, A. & Shemmings, D. (1995). Paternalism or partnership? Family involvement in the child protection process. London: HSMO.
Thomas, N. & O’Kane, C. (1999). Children’s participation in reviews and planning meetings when they are looked after in mid-childhood. Child and Family Social Work, 4: 221-230.
Turnell A. & Edwards S. (1999). Signs of safety: a solution and safety oriented approach to child protection casework. New York: Norton.
Turnell, A., Elliott, S. and Hogg, V. (2007). Compassionate, safe and rigorous child protection practice with parents of adopted children. Child Abuse Review 16(2): 108-119.
Turnell, A. (2004). Relationship-grounded, safety-organised child protection practice: dreamtime or real-time option for child welfare? Protecting Children, 19(2): 14–25.
Turnell, A. (2006). Constructive child protection practice: oxymoron or news of difference? Journal of Systemic Therapies 25(2): 3-12.
Westcott, H. (1995) Perceptions of child protection casework: views from children, parents and practitioners in C. Cloke and M. Davies (eds.) Participation and Empowerment in Child Protection, Longman: London.
Westcott, H. and Davies, G.M. (1996) Sexually abused children’s and young people’s perspectives on investigative interviews, British Journal of Social Work, 26: 451- 474.
Winefield, H.R. & Barlow, J.A. (1995) Child and worker satisfaction in a child protection agency. Child Abuse and Neglect, 19, 897–905.
Yatchmenoff, D.K. (2005) Measuring client engagement from the client's perspective in nonvoluntary child protective services. Research on Social Work Practice, 15, 84–96.