Child and Family Social Work as a Space for Promoting Social Cohesion

Abstract

Promoting social cohesion is frequently mentioned as an objective for child and family social work from a policy perspective. However, it is unclear how policies shape concrete child and family social work practices. The aim of the current study is to analyse how early childhood services in Flanders (Belgium) commit to the promotion social cohesion. An explorative multiple case study in Flanders, using (non)participatory observations (N = 40), was performed in child and family social work practices to answer the following research question: What is going on in child and family social work regarding the promotion of social cohesion? The research indicates that in the context of child and family social work, it is important to pay attention to the meaning of these light encounters as a possible way to foster social cohesion. Given the importance of light encounters in child and family social work, a reflection on the role of the infrastructure should be made. To end, a clear need and challenge became visible regarding the diversity in child and family social work practices. It is necessary to reach a diversity of families, but this implies that practitioners have the knowledge and know‐how in approaching and dealing with diversity issues.