Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-nmvwc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-17T11:52:37.015Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Avoiding saying too much: The complexity of relationships between permanent parents and social workers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 February 2016

Cas O’Neill
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Relationships between social workers and foster care, permanent care and adoptive parents are based on a combination ofknowledge, power, partnership and support, the ‘mix’ of which is likely to change over time. Different interpretations of what each side contributes to these relationships during assessment and post-placement contact, add to the complexity which parents and workers negotiate.

In a longitudinal research project on support in permanent placements, avoiding saying too much was an important part of these relationships. ‘Good’ and ‘bad’ parenting, expectations, blame, physical punishment and not coping are just some of the issues which were not spoken about.

This article explores the gap between the things which can be said and the things which are rarely said, and looks at how this gap affects relationships between fami lies and workers.

Type
Research Article
Information
Children Australia , Volume 26 , Issue 2 , 2001 , pp. 19 - 25
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2001

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Barbee, A., Cunningham, M., Winstead, B., Derlega, V, Gulley, M., Yankeelov, P. & Druen, P. (1993), ‘Effects of Gender Role Expectations on the Social Support Process’, Journal of Social Issues, 49 (3), pp. 175–190.Google Scholar
Bartholet, E. (1993), Family Bonds…Adoption and the Politics of Parenting, Houghton Mifflin, Boston.Google Scholar
Brieland, D. (1984), ‘Selection of Adoptive Parents’ in Sachdev, P. (Ed.) Adoption: Current Issues and Trends, Butterworth, Toronto.Google Scholar
Clifford, D. & Cropper, A. (1997), ‘Individual assessment of potential carers: theory and practice’, Practice, 9 (1), pp. 15–25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Collings, J. & Murray, P. (1996), ‘Predictors of Stress Amongst Social Workers: An Empirical Study’, British Journal of Social Work, 26 pp. 375–387.Google Scholar
Delaney, R. & Kunstal, F. (1993), Troubled Transplants… Unconventional Strategies for Helping Disturbed Foster and Adopted Children, National Child Welfare Resource Center for Management and Administration, Uni. of Southern Maine.Google Scholar
Flaherty, J. & Richman, J. (1989), ‘Gender Differences in the Perception and Utilization of Social Support: Theoretical Perspectives and an Empirical Test’, Soc.Sci.Med. 28 (12), pp. 1221–1228.Google Scholar
Graze, V. (1996), Successful Adoptive Families … A Longitudinal Study of Special Needs Adoption, Praeger, Westport, Connecticut.Google Scholar
Gutierrez, L., GlenMaye, L. & DeLois, K. (1995), ‘The Organizational Context of Empowerment Practice: Implications for Social Work Administration’, Social Work, 40 (2), pp. 249–258.Google Scholar
Hartman, A. (1995a), ‘Ideological Themes in Family Policy’, Families in Society, 76 (3), pp. 182–192.Google Scholar
Hartman, A. (1995b), ‘Diagrammatic assessment of family relationships’, Families in Society, 76 (2), pp. 111–122.Google Scholar
Hartman, A. & Laird, J. (1983), Family-Centered Social Work Practice, Free Press, N.Y.Google Scholar
Irving, K. (1998), ‘Parents for Children…Building New Families’, Children UK, (Summer), pp. 4–5.Google Scholar
Kaniuk, J. (1992), ‘The use of relationship in the preparation and support of adopters’, Adoption and Fostering, 16 (2), pp. 47–52.Google Scholar
Kirk, H.D. (1981), Adoptive Kinship – A Modern Institution in Need of Reform, Butterworth, Toronto.Google Scholar
Litzelfelner, P. & Petr, C. (1997) ‘Case Advocacy in Child Welfare’, Social Work, 42 (4), pp. 392–402.Google Scholar
O’Neill, C. (1993), ‘Do you Mean, We’re Not the Only Ones?’ Disruption - Powerlessness and Empowerment’, Children Australia, 18 (2), pp. 13–17.Google Scholar
Patterson, J. & Garwick, A. (1994), ‘Levels of Meaning in Family Stress Theory’, Family Process, 33 (3), pp. 287–304.Google Scholar
Penn, P. & Frankfurt, M. (1994) ‘Creating a Participant Text: Writing, Multiple Voices, Narrative Multiplicity’, Family Process, 33 (3), pp. 217–231.Google Scholar
Ryburn, M. (1991), ‘The Myth of Assessment’, Adoption and Fostering, 15 (1), pp. 20–27.Google Scholar
Saleebey, D. (1994), ‘Culture, Theory, and Narrative: The Intersection of Meanings in Practice’, Social Work, 39 (4) pp. 351–359.Google Scholar
Saunders, B. & Goddard, C. (1998), ‘Why do we condone the ‘physical punishment’ of children?’. Children Australia, 23 (3), pp. 23–28.Google Scholar
Schilling, R. (1987), ‘Limitations of Social Support’, Social Service Review, 61 pp. 19–31.Google Scholar
Scott, D. (1989), ‘Meaning Construction and Social Work Practice’, Social Service Review, 63 pp. 39–61.Google Scholar
Selwyn, J. (1991), ‘Applying to adopt: the experience of rejection’, Adoption and Fostering, 15 (3), pp. 26–29.Google Scholar
Selwyn, J. (1994), ‘Spies, informers and double agents’ - adoption assessments and role ambiguity’. Adoption and Fostering, 18 (4), pp. 43–47.Google Scholar
Shera, W. & Page, J. (1995), ‘Creating More Effective Human Service Organizations Through Strategies of Empowerment’, Administration in Social Work, 19 (4), pp. 1–15.Google Scholar
Smith, E. (1989), The Relationship of Services to Success in Older Child Adoption, unpublished Doctor of Social Welfare thesis, Yeshiva University, N.Y.Google Scholar
Spellman, D. & Harper, D. (1996), ‘Failure, mistakes, regret and other subjugated stories in family therapy’, Journal of Family Therapy, 18, pp.205–214.Google Scholar
Stevenson, P. (1991), ‘A model of self-assessment for prospective adopters’, Adoption and Fostering, 15 (3), pp. 30–35.Google Scholar
Thompson, N., Stradling, S., Murphy, M. & O’Neill, P. (1996) ‘Stress and Organizational Culture’, British Journal of Social Work, 26 pp. 647–665.Google Scholar