Better practices in parent engagement: lessons from the USA and England

Abstract

This paper undertakes an international comparison of parent engagement in the USA and England. Research from both countries is reviewed to establish the extent to which parent engagement is achieving the benefit of an improved fit between need and services and what, if any, differences exist between the experiences of parents in the USA and England. Despite some unique differences, research from both countries identifies similar experiences among parents. Those studies indicate that parent engagement is not yet contributing to the provision of services that are more timely, appropriate, or adequate in meeting parent need. The barriers to achieving a better fit between needs and services are explored and system-wide issues that limit the effectiveness of engagement with parents are discussed. The paper presents the Munro Review of Child Protection in England as a catalyst for change in improving the child welfare system's approach to parent engagement and establishing a better fit between needs and services. Consideration of the applicability of the Munro Review findings to the USA child welfare system or replication of such a review is proposed.

Parental engagement in child protection assessment: A qualitative analysis of worker and parent perspectives

“…Seeing the parents as experts and equal partners requires significant change in the policies and practices of child welfare agencies, which have historically employed an authoritative approach to working with families (Williamson and Gray, 2011). Damman (2014: 41) argues that effective parental engagement in itself will not result in a better fit between needs and services without broader system-wide change. This study’s findings highlight the need to find ways to support the child protection workers’ way of thinking, including approaches in Estonia, so that they can effectively engage parents and conduct comprehensive assessments with families.…”

“…Parental engagement is a broad and complex term with multiple meanings, ranging from the extent to which parents participate in services offered to the effectiveness of the relationship between worker and parent (Damman, 2014: 33). Pennell et al (2011) suggest that the engagement is more than a helping relationship between workers and parents and involves clients in determining courses of action that make sense to them.…”

Talking Back to ‘Family’, ‘Family Troubles’, and ‘the Looked-after Child’

“…Equally, many authors argue that the voice of parents is weak relative to the professionals and decision-makers involved in welfare services (e.g. see Broadhurst and Holt, 2010; Damman, 2014; Gillies, 2006; Widding, 2015). In this way, some troubles (and remedies) are imposed on children and families when, in the short-term at least, recipients may have felt their situation within the bounds of normality.…”

Miracle question promotes open communication and positive interaction between clients and practitioners

“…I decided to bring Estonian practitioners’ voices to researchers and other practitioners by sharing their experiences of the solution-focused approach they found useful in constructing solutions. As Damman (2014) states, sharing best practices in the international social work community promotes development of the knowledge base and enables the enhancement of the range of potential solutions in social work practice. The core to social work practice is promoting strengths and empowerment (Ayón et al, 2010).…”