The Reunification Partnership: Engaging Birth Parents and Foster Carers as Collaborators in Restoration Casework

Abstract

Collaboration is recognised as a key factor influencing the success of efforts to reunite children with their family following a protective intervention and a period in out-of-home care. Until now, little research has explored the possibilities of collaboration in this context, especially between parents and foster carers. This qualitative, interpretive study asked child protection caseworkers involved in restoration cases about their perceptions, perspectives, and experiences of collaboration between parents and carers. In-depth interviews were conducted with six caseworkers from five locations in New South Wales. The study found that caseworkers identified factors that influence the development of collaboration. These factors include trust, motivation and willingness, knowledge, and agreement. They also described strategies for promoting these factors in their casework. The research highlighted that a collaborative relationship between parents and carers can be facilitated through casework practice that considers certain factors and that strategically addresses the barriers to collaboration.

要想让经过了保护性干预及家外看护期的儿童与其家人融洽相处，协作是关键。迄今还很少有人研究尤其是父母与抚养人之间协作的可能性。这篇定性、阐释性研究，向儿童保护援助者询问了他们对家长与看护人之间协作关系的感受、见解和及经验。笔者对新南威尔士5个地点的6位援助者做了访谈。这些援助者谈到一些影响协作的因素，包括信任、动机、意愿、知识及同意。他们还讲述了在工作中如何从这几个方面促进协作。作者强调指出，考虑某些因素并克服协作障碍的援助实践，有益于家长和看护人的协作关系。

Keywords:

• Child Welfare
• Child Protection
• Child Protection Workers
• Family Interventions
• Foster Care
• Out-of-home Care