Abstract
This article examines characteristics and social work practices within the
Mexican child protection system by combining observations of practice with the voices and
the views expressed by managers, social workers, families, children and young people. The
results of the study confirm the need for and desire to adopt a participatory approach, in
preference to the individualistic ideas that currently dominates practice. The traditional
Mexican culture, the implicit and explicit representation of family and the social problems
connected to drug trade conflicts appear to have contributed to a child protection system
with a “child-centered perspective”, characterized by asymmetric power relationships, lacking
the empowerment and engagement of service users. These practices seem to be counter to
the legislative framework and appear ineffective. Reflections regarding how family needs
are identified, understood and addressed reveal a commitment to find new ways of working
with families among service users and providers. However, the biggest challenge in the
Mexican context is to balance the protection of the child with support to their parents; without
ensuring the former, the latter will remain a partial and counter-productive work practice.
Lingua originale | English |
---|---|
pagine (da-a) | 393-420 |
Numero di pagine | 28 |
Rivista | Social Sciences |
Volume | 2015 |
DOI | |
Stato di pubblicazione | Pubblicato - 2015 |
Keywords
- child protection
- social workers