Hurdling the Artificial Fence Between Child Welfare and the Community
Engaging Community Partners to Address Disproportionality
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 6076555 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Joan R Rycraft (The University of Texas at Arlington), Alan J Dettlaff (0000-0002-4042-7282, Illinois College) |
| Year | 2009 |
| Volume | 17 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 464-482 |
| Publication date | 2009-11-19 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Community Practice (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1070-5422 • E-ISSN: 1543-3706 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/10705420903300025 |
| OpenAlex | W2014405576 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 6 |
| References cited | 5 |
As with many national and state social service systems, child welfare agencies have traditionally functioned in isolation. A multitude of federal and state laws and policies direct the functions and practices of child welfare systems, setting up an artificial fence around the agency that has created a culture lacking in interprofessional collaborations. However, recent reform efforts have emphasized the importance of engaging the community in discussions and decisions regarding child welfare practice. Child welfare agencies are now expected to work with community leaders, key stakeholders, affiliated service providers, and families to address issues impacting children and families. A major obstacle is determining where to begin, how to proceed, and what is needed to develop those partnerships. This article reports the efforts of one state agency in hurdling that artificial fence to address the overrepresentation of minority children in the system. Through focus group interviews with community members, child welfare staff, and legal professionals, barriers to community engagement are identified, and recommendations are provided for facilitating meaningful relationships and partnerships between child welfare agencies and the communities they serve
Agency (philosophy · Business · Political science · Public relations · Social Welfare · Sociology · Welfare · Welfare reform · Child Abuse and Trauma · Child Welfare and Adoption · Law · Public Administration · Social Work Education and Practice · Social Work
| Unique citing works | 6 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,38 |
| Citation span | 2010 - 2022 (13) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 6 |