BJSW Advance Access published online on April 8, 2008
British Journal of Social Work, doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcn038
A Qualitative Examination of Power between Child Welfare Workers and Parents
Kimberly Bundy-Fazioli is a tenure-track professor in the School of Social Work as well as a research affiliate with the Social Work Research Center, Applied Research in Child Welfare at Colorado State University. She has extensive experience working in the areas of foster care, group and residential treatment, and school-based and home-based prevention programs. He research focuses on issues pertaining to the health and wellbeing of children and families, specifically, child neglecting families, grandfamilies (grantparents raising grandchildren), and intra- and inter-agency collaborative practices with children and families in public welfare. She received her MSW and Ph.D., respectively, from the School of Social Welfare at the University of Albany, State University of New York in 1983, and 2004
Katharine Briar-Lawson is Dean of the School of Social Welfare at the University at Albany. State University of New York. Dr. Briar-Lawson has spearheaded University-Community partnerships and family and interprofessional collaboration in over 40 states. In addition, she has developed award winning demonstration projects involving parent empowerment, school-based services and school reform. She has authored numerous books and articles addressing the needs of vulnerable children and families. She is now serving as President of the National Association of Deans and Directors of Deans and Directors of School of Social Work. She also served as Assistant Secretary for Children, Youth and Families in the State of Washington. She received her Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley and her MSW from Columbia University
Eric R. Hardiman, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor, School of Social Welfare, University at Albany, State University of New York. He conducts research in consumer-delivered services, peer support, psychiatric recovery, homelessness, and housing. He has also studied mental health responses and disaster relief, including a study of consumer-delivered services in New York City following Sept. 11, 2001. He co-directs the Center for Innovation in Mental Health Research. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley
Correspondence to Kimberly Bundy-Fazioli, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Colorado State University, School of Social Work, 116 Education Building, Fort Collins, CO 80537, USA. Email: kbunfaz{at}cahs.colostate.edu
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Abstract |
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This qualitative study examines the distribution of power in the working relationship between child welfare workers and parents mandated to services due to child abuse and/or neglect. In child welfare settings, the relationship between workers and parents is complicated by institutional power structures governing rules and regulations for practice. Paradoxically, workers are expected to share power with families through the implementation of empowerment, collaboration and strength-based practices. This article focuses on three emergent themes: parents' and workers' feelings of powerlessness, their ability to each wield power in the relationship, and their perceptions of how power should be distributed. The emergent themes are discussed through the lens of three power constructs—hierarchical and imbalanced, negotiated and reciprocal, and shared and balanced power—as a theoretical and conceptual framework. Our findings indicate that how workers and parents choose to interact may influence service outcomes.
Keywords: Child Maltreatment, Child Welfare, Power, Working Relationship