Family engagement in the child welfare system: A scoping review

Abstract

ObjectiveThis article describes the results of a scoping review to better understand child welfare professionals' and service users' (families' and children's) perspectives on and experiences with family engagement in the child protection system. MethodForty peer-reviewed academic journals from multiple scientific databases published in English between January 1, 2010 and May 31, 2016 were analysed. ResultsAspects of traditional child protection discourse still tends to dominate engagement practices, including the over-riding priority of child protection concerns; authority-based, coercive, and bureaucratized methods of engaging clients; children's participation as perfunctory rather than an important aspect of the process; limited information from the workers to children and families; and processes that are stigmatizing, focusing on families' deficits rather than strengths. Conclusions and implications for practiceTo improve the quality of relationships between workers and children/families, and, most importantly, to improve child welfare outcomes, a paradigm shift is needed, recognizing children's and families' rights and the importance of their participation. Methods are needed that help child welfare professionals increase their competence and confidence in effectively engaging children and families in child protection processes, including assessments that have critical implications for clients' lives.