Child Neglect and Intensive-Family-Preservation Practice

Abstract

Australian social workers, like their American peers, have questioned the relevance of brief intensive-family-preservation services (IFPS) to child neglect. Three scenarios involving physical and environmental neglect are compared and contrasted, and the experience of an Australian pilot IFPS program is explored, highlighting the use made of the worker's time in the home, the significance of family history, social support, and issues in termination and follow-up. The case studies suggest three subtypes of neglect, each of which has different implications for the delivery and organization of IFPS.