The Power and Ethics of Social Network Intervention in Working with At-Risk Youth

Abstract

Approaches that intervene in and aim to build alliances in the client’s family and network are common in child welfare, not at least in measures undertaken towards at-risk youth. The ideological components of democracy and empowerment are strong, and some claim an affinity to the “natural” problem solving of indigenous people. In the article some of these basic assumptions are called into question in the light of research on professional power and asymmetrical relations. Special attention is paid the network meeting which is supposed to shape common understanding and joint action. Eight network meetings of two network teams in Sweden were observed. The article concludes that social network intervention can be a powerful method. It can contribute to instilling hope and building alliances. However, the network meeting also produces explanations, roles and can bring premature disclosures because of the strong group dynamic forces. The power of the method therefore calls for an ethical awareness. It can be tempting to stimulate group dynamic forces to create climaxes in order to achieve “good meetings”, but the consequences are not always easy to foresee or to control.