Welfare Reform on the Web (May 2009): Child welfare - overseas

Racializing the 'social development' state: investing in children in Aotearoa/New Zealand

V. Elizabeth and W. Larner

Social Politics, vol.16, 2009, p.132-158

In contemporary discussions about welfare state reform, feminist scholars have pointed out that women's concerns are increasingly being downplayed in favour of the child. The New Zealand government , like other states, is putting the child at the centre of social policy on the grounds that investing in children will ensure the future well-being of families and communities. This paper demonstrates that the children and mothers most likely to benefit from this investment are Pakehas, whereas those requiring continued programmatic intervention are more likely to be Maori or Pacific Islanders.

Retaining novices to become expert child protection practitioners: creating career pathways in direct practice

K. Healy, G. Meagher and J. Cullin

British Journal of Social Work, vol. 39, 2009, p. 299-317

In many post-industrial countries, concerns have been raised about high turnover of professional staff and its negative impact on service quality. Building on analysis of factors contributing to high turnover among child protection workers, this paper proposes a strategy for encouraging these workers to stay in practice and become advanced practitioners. The principal source of data is interviews with key informants involved in management, policy analysis or research roles in child protection services in England, Sweden and Australia.

What counts in child protection and welfare?

A. Halvorsen

Qualitative Social Work, vol. 8, 2009, p. 65-81

New Public Management reforms which have spread through the public services in western countries demand enhanced user orientation and management by goals and results as means of delivering improvements. In this climate, child protection and welfare services must prove that they deliver positive outcomes. This research used interviews with three former users of children's services in Norway to explore the question of whether basic care (being cared for and loved without too much emphasis of achieving specific goals) is being devalued in a results-oriented and evidence-based regime.