Cross cultural transferability in child protection: challenges and opportunities

Abstract

The paper uses the experience of working in Bolivia in the field of child protection to discuss the usage of international contributions and cooperation in the implementation of child protection measures. The challenges and opportunities involved in the implementation of child protection policy and practice in Bolivia are discussed in the context of the realities faced in many countries of South America. The paper describes how a systemic approach was used to provoke change, to maximize the effectiveness of what resources and capabilities already existed and to promote continuing improvement in multidisciplinary cooperation. Where resources are not available for an integrated multisectorial approach dedicated to child abuse and neglect (CAN), leadership and capacity-building in this way may be used to enable practitioners to transform the challenges of implementation into opportunities for learning and better practice.

Exploring the state of Qatar’s child protection system through the lens of frontline social workers

“…Legal and social work leaders have advocated for the timely implementation of the family law to better address and reconcile parental refusal in custody cases to achieve the best interest of the child (Fikri, 2019). Internationally, there has been increasing attention to engaging fathers in child protection (Lidchi, 2003; Russell, 2015). Social workers in this study faced barriers in practicing cross-cultural competency, which was similar to the reported findings in other national and regional studies (Al-Mohannadi et al, 2020; Al-Sharqawi and Al-Owaid, 2015; Melendres, 2022).…”

“…Social workers explained that parents refused to engage because parents often did not want professional interference in private family matters. Such parental resistance is common across cultures (Lansford et al, 2015; Lidchi, 2003). Furthermore, participants articulated that parents, especially fathers, lack awareness about the difference between appropriate parenting and abuse.…”

Exploring the state of Qatar’s child protection system through the lens of frontline social workers

“…Legal and social work leaders have advocated for the timely implementation of the family law to better address and reconcile parental refusal in custody cases to achieve the best interest of the child (Fikri, 2019). Internationally, there has been increasing attention to engaging fathers in child protection (Lidchi, 2003; Russell, 2015). Social workers in this study faced barriers in practicing cross-cultural competency, which was similar to the reported findings in other national and regional studies (Al-Mohannadi et al, 2020; Al-Sharqawi and Al-Owaid, 2015; Melendres, 2022).…”

“…Social workers explained that parents refused to engage because parents often did not want professional interference in private family matters. Such parental resistance is common across cultures (Lansford et al, 2015; Lidchi, 2003). Furthermore, participants articulated that parents, especially fathers, lack awareness about the difference between appropriate parenting and abuse.…”

Issues in Safeguarding Refugee and Asylum‐seeking Children and Young People: Research and Practice

“…Childhood harm and abuse are recognised as a cross-national issue (Sossou and Yogtiba, 2009;Stanley and Appleton, 2008), as is the need to avoid cultural imperialism in developing protective systems for children and young people (Lidchi, 2003(Lidchi, , 2007. Social work responses to Black and minority ethnic families where harm or abuse is suspected are examined regularly (see, for example, Barn, 2007;Channer and Parton, 1990;Križ and Skivenes, 2010b).…”

Addressing issues of globalization in the training of public child welfare workers

“…Central to the philosophy of the training was the avoidance of viewing child welfare in other countries through the prism of the US or European frameworks. As discussed by Lidchi (2003), challenges exist for improving the condition of children in many South American, Asian and African countries, and 'models from the countries with the longest experience in the field may be contextually inappropriate to the different social structure and resource prioritization that exists' (p. 241). Thus, the training focused on the broad definition of child welfare, often concerned with health and safety, as well as the potential child protection systems that may or may not be in place.…”

“…These articles were used to stimulate discussion of the reasons for different systems throughout the world and the potential for international learning about differing approaches, successes and challenges. Samples of these articles include Lidchi (2003), who discusses cross-cultural transferability in child protection, focussing particularly on Bolivia and the South American context, and Lachman et al (2002), who describe the challenges facing child protection in southern Africa.…”

Exploring the state of Qatar’s child protection system through the lens of frontline social workers

“…Legal and social work leaders have advocated for the timely implementation of the family law to better address and reconcile parental refusal in custody cases to achieve the best interest of the child (Fikri, 2019). Internationally, there has been increasing attention to engaging fathers in child protection (Lidchi, 2003; Russell, 2015). Social workers in this study faced barriers in practicing cross-cultural competency, which was similar to the reported findings in other national and regional studies (Al-Mohannadi et al, 2020; Al-Sharqawi and Al-Owaid, 2015; Melendres, 2022).…”

“…Social workers explained that parents refused to engage because parents often did not want professional interference in private family matters. Such parental resistance is common across cultures (Lansford et al, 2015; Lidchi, 2003). Furthermore, participants articulated that parents, especially fathers, lack awareness about the difference between appropriate parenting and abuse.…”

Issues in Safeguarding Refugee and Asylum‐seeking Children and Young People: Research and Practice

“…Childhood harm and abuse are recognised as a cross-national issue (Sossou and Yogtiba, 2009;Stanley and Appleton, 2008), as is the need to avoid cultural imperialism in developing protective systems for children and young people (Lidchi, 2003(Lidchi, , 2007. Social work responses to Black and minority ethnic families where harm or abuse is suspected are examined regularly (see, for example, Barn, 2007;Channer and Parton, 1990;Križ and Skivenes, 2010b).…”

Addressing issues of globalization in the training of public child welfare workers

“…Central to the philosophy of the training was the avoidance of viewing child welfare in other countries through the prism of the US or European frameworks. As discussed by Lidchi (2003), challenges exist for improving the condition of children in many South American, Asian and African countries, and 'models from the countries with the longest experience in the field may be contextually inappropriate to the different social structure and resource prioritization that exists' (p. 241). Thus, the training focused on the broad definition of child welfare, often concerned with health and safety, as well as the potential child protection systems that may or may not be in place.…”

“…These articles were used to stimulate discussion of the reasons for different systems throughout the world and the potential for international learning about differing approaches, successes and challenges. Samples of these articles include Lidchi (2003), who discusses cross-cultural transferability in child protection, focussing particularly on Bolivia and the South American context, and Lachman et al (2002), who describe the challenges facing child protection in southern Africa.…”

Exploring the state of Qatar’s child protection system through the lens of frontline social workers

“…Legal and social work leaders have advocated for the timely implementation of the family law to better address and reconcile parental refusal in custody cases to achieve the best interest of the child (Fikri, 2019). Internationally, there has been increasing attention to engaging fathers in child protection (Lidchi, 2003; Russell, 2015). Social workers in this study faced barriers in practicing cross-cultural competency, which was similar to the reported findings in other national and regional studies (Al-Mohannadi et al, 2020; Al-Sharqawi and Al-Owaid, 2015; Melendres, 2022).…”

“…Social workers explained that parents refused to engage because parents often did not want professional interference in private family matters. Such parental resistance is common across cultures (Lansford et al, 2015; Lidchi, 2003). Furthermore, participants articulated that parents, especially fathers, lack awareness about the difference between appropriate parenting and abuse.…”

Issues in Safeguarding Refugee and Asylum‐seeking Children and Young People: Research and Practice

“…Childhood harm and abuse are recognised as a cross-national issue (Sossou and Yogtiba, 2009;Stanley and Appleton, 2008), as is the need to avoid cultural imperialism in developing protective systems for children and young people (Lidchi, 2003(Lidchi, , 2007. Social work responses to Black and minority ethnic families where harm or abuse is suspected are examined regularly (see, for example, Barn, 2007;Channer and Parton, 1990;Križ and Skivenes, 2010b).…”

Addressing issues of globalization in the training of public child welfare workers

“…Central to the philosophy of the training was the avoidance of viewing child welfare in other countries through the prism of the US or European frameworks. As discussed by Lidchi (2003), challenges exist for improving the condition of children in many South American, Asian and African countries, and 'models from the countries with the longest experience in the field may be contextually inappropriate to the different social structure and resource prioritization that exists' (p. 241). Thus, the training focused on the broad definition of child welfare, often concerned with health and safety, as well as the potential child protection systems that may or may not be in place.…”

“…These articles were used to stimulate discussion of the reasons for different systems throughout the world and the potential for international learning about differing approaches, successes and challenges. Samples of these articles include Lidchi (2003), who discusses cross-cultural transferability in child protection, focussing particularly on Bolivia and the South American context, and Lachman et al (2002), who describe the challenges facing child protection in southern Africa.…”