Understanding and changing community attitudes towards vulnerable families: A review of literature and practice

Abstract

Background: Communities can play an important role in protecting children and supporting vulnerable families. However, there is currently a lack of understanding regarding what communities actually think and do regarding these groups. Objective: The purpose of this study was to review and synthesize evidence on community attitudes and behaviours towards vulnerable families. Methods: A rapid systematic literature review was conducted, supplemented by six semi-structured interviews with experienced practitioners. Four databases were searched using keywords related to community attitudes and behaviours, parents and families, and family and child protection services. Results: Database searches returned 10,135 unique records, of which 23 met the inclusion criteria. The identified articles investigated a range of attitudes and behaviours, including: reporting abuse and neglect; assisting victims of intimate partner violence; attitudes towards parenting practices; and, participating in activities that build social support and social capital. Correlates of these attitudes and behaviours included: socio-demographic characteristics, individual differences, community characteristics, and incident characteristics. A number of interventions to change community attitudes and behaviours were also identified. Practitioners indicated that success factors for interventions included: facilitating active participation from community members; using multi-faceted approaches; and increasing empathy towards vulnerable families. Conclusions: Despite increasing evidence around how community members think and act towards vulnerable families, more (particularly review-level) research is needed to determine how to effectively change these attitudes and behaviours.