Poverty‐aware social work in the child protection system: A critical reflection on two single‐case studies

Abstract

In recent years, scholarly writing that calls for the development of a new child protection framework that contextualizes risk and links it to poverty and social marginalization has increased. Nonetheless, there is a lack of research on the challenges of implementing such a framework in frontline practice. Based on the ongoing, rigorous documentation of the author's experience, as a social work practitioner in a community child protection centre, this article presents two single-case studies that describe and conceptualize the potential contribution of the poverty-aware paradigm to the creation of a social framework for child protection practice. Utilizing critical reflection as a method of analysis, the findings reveal two major tensions entwined in povertyaware child protection practice: the tension between focusing child protection interventions on parenting and focusing them on poverty and the tension between framing risk within a social context and framing it within the concept of the best interest of the child. Based on the case studies, seven poverty-aware practices to cope with these tensions are identified. KEYWORDS child protection, critical practice, critical reflection, poverty-aware social workWe need change … so that the kind of social work we are prompting, that which places human beings and human factors at its heart, can be developed.

Social Work Advocacy: Towards a Trauma-Informed Model

“…People from marginalized communities experience a multitude of chronic life stresses, such as violence, economic hardships, family conflicts, and discrimination (Broaddus, 2020;Conradt et al, 2020;Lacey et al, 2022). Children living in poverty are more likely to be exposed to adversities in their surroundings and families (Saar-Heiman, 2019;Walsh et al, 2019). These traumatic experiences accumulate, creating a burdening effect with negative consequences such as physical and emotional illnesses in adulthood and high-risk behaviors (Bruner, 2017;Felitti et al, 1998;Petrucceli et al, 2019).…”

“…If the service users are interested in being more involved in policy practice, they can join organizations that are already actively working to change this policy with the social worker or alone. Clinical evidence indicates that involvement in policy practice alongside practitioners allows service users to experience validation, recognition, and a sense of power (Saar-Heiman, 2019;Sucharov, 2013).…”

From critical reflection to critical professional practice: Addressing the tensions between critical and hegemonic perspectives

“…The basic tool that enables such inquiry is reflexivity, a process through which professionals examine their work in depth, evaluating the basic assumptions that underlie their emotions, thoughts, meanings, and actions (Fook and Gardner, 2007). Schön (1983) described reflexive processes as an ongoing attention to nuanced personal and relational feelings that accompanies professional conduct. In this article, we seek to explore the gap between critical professional perspectives and critical practice.…”

Contextualised resistance: The mediating power of paradigmatic frameworks

“…The Poverty‐Aware Social Work paradigm is a theoretical paradigm for direct social work with people living in poverty. This framework was developed by Michal Krumer‐Nevo and her colleagues in the Israeli academy (Krumer‐Nevo, 2016; Saar‐Heiman, 2019; Timor‐Shlevin & Benjamin, 2020). Poverty‐aware social work articulates a principled solidarity of ‘standing by’ people living in poverty in their struggle (Krumer‐Nevo, 2016, p. 1803) as a fundamental ethical position of practice (Timor‐Shlevin & Krumer‐Nevo, 2016).…”