Not trustworthy. African parents’ perspectives on Norwegian child protection care measures
Peer reviewed, Journal article
Published version
Permanent lenke
https://hdl.handle.net/11250/3115499Utgivelsesdato
2023Metadata
Vis full innførselSamlinger
- Publikasjoner fra Cristin [3269]
- SAM - Institutt for sosialfag [471]
Originalversjon
10.1080/13691457.2023.2282386Sammendrag
This study focuses on the experiences of African parents with care
measure histories and their working relations with the Norwegian Child
Protection Service (CPS), investigating how these interactions affect
trust and collaboration between parents and the agency. Qualitative
interviews with 15 parents revealed the emotional and existential
impact of care measures resulting in feelings of injustice, resentment,
and disempowerment. The study emphasises the need for CPS to build
strong working relationships with parents throughout child protection
procedures, particularly for ethnic minority families who may lack
confidence in the Norwegian child protection system. Despite the legal
obligation of CPS to provide continued support and assist parents in
developing necessary parenting skills, our results show that cooperation
is complicated by perceived institutional bias, opaque decisions, no
focus on reunion, and the overall feeling that the agency does not
encapsulate the interests of minority families. The study highlights the
importance of reflecting on power, trust, and risk in encounters
between service personnel and minority parents, underscoring the need
for empathetic approaches to child protection that prioritise building
trust and collaboration between all parties involved. The findings have
implications for improving relationships between professionals and
parents and promoting greater trust and confidence in CPS.