Not trustworthy. African parents’ perspectives on Norwegian child protection care measures

Abstract

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.