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Conceptualisations of Family and Social Work Family Practice in Chile, Mexico and Norway

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 July 2018

Ingunn Studsrød
Affiliation:
University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway E-mail: Ingunn.studsrod@uis.no
Ingunn T. Ellingsen
Affiliation:
University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway E-mail: ingunn.t.ellingsen@uis.no
Carolina Muñoz Guzmán
Affiliation:
Pontifica Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile E-mail: cmunozgu@uc.cl
Sandra E. Mancinas Espinoza
Affiliation:
Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, México E-mail: sandramancinas@hotmail.com

Abstract

Social workers all around the world work with families and family complexity in their everyday practice. In this article, we present findings from a cross-national study exploring how social workers in child welfare conceptualise ‘family’, and how they relate to ‘family’ in their practice. Data presented is taken from focus groups with twenty-eight social workers from Chile, Mexico and Norway. The findings reveal that in Chilean, Mexican, and Norwegian social work, the conceptualisation of family has expanded over time, acknowledging various family forms and displays, and an increased orientation towards networks regardless of biological ties. However, differences were found, particularly in the way professionals view extended family, perspectives on family intervention, and the position of children in the family. Practical implications will be discussed.

Type
Themed Section on Families, Social Work and the Welfare State: Where Contemporary ‘Family’ Meets Policy and Practice
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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