Digital interventions with families - a case study

Abstract

This article discusses the responses developed in Portugal during the state of emergency by a family empowerment and intervention team and how this team actively integrated contingency plans and challenges through information and communication technology (ICT). We also explain what was learned during this period and what could have been done better. The family empowerment intervention teams of this organization are specialized multidisciplinary teams that act from a perspective to teach parenting skills to families to ensure that the rights of their children and adolescents are guaranteed. These teams’ interventions normally take place in the home environment. However, the state of emergency meant that this procedure had to be adapted by incorporating digital practices, while home visits and consultations were carried out only in emergencies and other duly justified situations. The result of this experience was extremely positive in terms of the relationships established with the families and couples, the skills developed, and the resilience shown by all.

Family engagement during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Opportunities and challenges for school social work

“…A growing body of literature had developed that examines the changes to social work practice with children and families during the COVID‐19 pandemic across the globe, including in the UK (e.g., Copson et al, 2022; Ferguson et al, 2022), Romania (Budeva, 2022), Portugal (Vegard et al, 2022), Finland (Fiorentino et al, 2022) and Italy (Calcaterra & Landi, 2022). However, the majority of this research focuses on child protection practice and community‐based social work.…”

Evolución del riesgo y protección en la infancia y la adolescencia

“…Por tanto, y siguiendo a Lo y Cho (2021), los esfuerzos de la investigación deben orientarse hacia la evaluación del efecto de las intervenciones en la vida de los NNA en riesgo y su traslación a la plani"cación de los sistemas de bienestar infantil. Esto contribuirá, a su vez, a la identi"cación de intervenciones efectivas que permitan prevenir consecuencias adversas, tratar las experiencias traumáticas y crear NNA resilientes (Sánchez-Reyes et al, 2019;Vegard et al, 2022).…”

The digital citizenship of children and adolescents: Challenges for social work education

“…The first contribution examines a good practice in digital participatory action research carried out in Portugal during the health emergency. Patricia Vegard, Helena Belchior-Rocha, and Inês Casquilho-Martins (Vegard, Belchior-Rocha, & Casquilho-Martins, 2022) analyze this experience, in which technical teams that provide training in family assistance and undergraduate social work students participated. The aim was to promote positive interactions and empower certain families from a children's rights approach.…”