Working the System: Re-Thinking the Institutionally Organized Role of Mothers and the Reduction of "Risk" in Child Protection Work

Examining the climate for Aboriginal mothers in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs): an exploratory qualitative study about views of health care professionals

“…This Act requires that suspected abuse or neglect of a child be reported to the Director of child protection or delegated social worker or child welfare authorities (De Leeuw, 2014;De Leeuw et al, 2010;Fallon et al, 2013). The Act gives delegated social workers the authority to provide child protection services that is the least The Comprehensive Risk Assessment is used to predict the probability of ongoing or future harm (Brown, 2006). If certain options for key risk factors are unclear, MCFD social workers are told to err on the side of caution to ensure child safety (Brown, 2006; Fallon et al, 2014).…”

“…The inequities and vulnerabilities of Aboriginal peoples require more research and investigation in order to better advocate for and support this population group. Due to government spending cutbacks, the ability of social services to adequately respond to increased reports of child maltreatment has been negatively influenced (Brown, 2006). Indeed, it is apparent that contemporary government strategies have included fiscally prudent solutions for child welfare programs, but risk management strategies have been criticised for drawing scarce resources away from preventative measures that results in unmet needs of many children (Blackstock, 2012).…”

“…Risk reduction plans are created for mothers at high risk for child apprehension in order to ensure that infants go home to a safe environment and then receive appropriate care (Brown, 2006). If mothers cannot meet the expectations of risk reduction plans (that often require changes in their home environment, personal behaviour, or caregiving) then their infants or children are to be removed irrespective of factors and barriers that limit their ability to comply (Brown, 2006). This literature suggests it may be highly unlikely that Aboriginal mothers in the NICU exposed to poverty, violence and abuse will be able to keep their infants if social, political, and economic determinants are ignored: addressing this is, again, at the heart of my research.…”

“…It America, the authors discussed that there was a point in time at which a "good" mother was defined as being normal, and that a normal mother was expected to be happy and able to alter her life in order to perfectly care for her newborn (Held & Rutherford, 2012). This research attempts to acknowledge that mothers at risk for child apprehension in the NICU may be in situations that increase the perception of risk if viewed through a lens of idealized or romanticized motherhood (Brown, 2006;Reid et al, 2008).In conjunction with social constructions of motherhood, there are often multiple inequitable conditions and systemic injustices that may affect the perceptions of health care professionals towards Aboriginal mothers. Conditions that may limit the abilities of mothers to provide safe care for their infants include poverty, domestic violence, safe and affordable…”

“…This research attempts to acknowledge that mothers at risk for child apprehension in the NICU may be in situations that increase the perception of risk if viewed through a lens of idealized or romanticized motherhood (Brown, 2006;Reid et al, 2008).…”