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‘I'm just a mother. I'm nothing special, they're all professionals’: parental advocacy as an aid to parental engagement
Author(s) -
Featherstone Brid,
Fraser Claire
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
child and family social work
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.912
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1365-2206
pISSN - 1356-7500
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2206.2012.00839.x
Subject(s) - disadvantage , welfare , nothing , welfare reform , ethnic group , psychology , child protection , subject (documents) , developmental psychology , nursing , political science , medicine , law , philosophy , epistemology , library science , computer science
This paper discusses findings from an evaluation of an advocacy scheme for parents whose children were subject to child protection proceedings including a pilot project where co‐operation between parents and professionals was an issue. Encouraging findings of parents' experiences of being heard, being able to listen, and, in some cases, to act on concerns about their children's welfare are outlined. Three case studies offer accounts of practices that are gendered and occur against a backdrop of ethnic disadvantage. The paper suggests that current debates about reform need to recognize the need to support parents to manage intimidating systems.