Translating Knowledge for Child Welfare Practice Cross-Nationally

Abstract

Some researchers contend that the rise in child abuse allegations among Caribbean immigrants in New York City is consistent with the large body of research suggesting that maltreatment is driven by the complex interaction of interpersonal, economic, social, and environmental factors. Others believe it has more to do with cultural child-rearing norms sanctioning the use of physical punishment of children. The goals of the research reported here were to better understand the influence of these many factors on child rearing, particularly as they relate to disciplinary practices within the Trinidadian population. An ethnographic field study of the context and norms of child rearing in the Caribbean was completed. This yielded data that were then translated into practice guidelines and policy recommendations by seven seasoned child welfare workers in New York City, all involved in a specialized MSW training program with the principal investigator. The functioning of Caribbean immigrant families is affected by a combination of relocation issues, differing child-rearing norms and traditions, shifting family roles and parental expectations, economic hardships, and normative stressors. Knowledge of how better to address these in practice should aid in limiting their risk for family violence.

KEYWORDS:

• Caribbean immigrants
• child rearing
• corporal punishment
• parenting norms
• parenting context

Notes

This work was funded, in part, through the United States State Department, Fulbright Program, and the New York State Education Consortium.