Lastensuojelun alkuarvioinnin vaikutukset vanhempien näkökulmasta

Abstract

This study examines parents’ experiences of the assessment and its outcomes in child welfare. The research question is as follows: What factors concerning the assessment process and context contribute to the outcomes of the assessment from the perspective of the parents? The realistic evaluation and program theory research give an evaluation research framework to the study. In the study 177 parents from seven municipalities who are clients of child welfare participated. Their families had experienced the assessment in child welfare. Various analysis methods were used: cross table, t-test, correlation, fac- tor analysis, hierarchical regression analysis, two-way variance analysis and the bootstrap method. The results indicate that the good client relationship oriented and the strength oriented social work promoted the reaching of all the examined out- comes of the assessment. The studied outcomes were as follows: increased awareness of the child’s situation, the need for change and of the parent’s own strengths, experience of the improvement of the family situation and the reach- ing of similar views of the family situation with the social worker. Other factors which promoted the reaching of the outcomes varied according to the particular outcome. The father’s participation in the assessment, receiving a summary of the assessment, the large number of meetings, the social worker’s assessment orientation and the parent’s wish to get child oriented work promoted the reaching of one or two of the outcomes. But if the social worker focused on the problems of the family, it weakened possibilities for the parent to reach a simi- lar view of the family situation as that of the social worker. The context factors related to the background of the client affected the out- comes, too. If the problems in the family were related to the parent’s problems and if the family themselves had sought help from the child welfare social worker then the situation was more sensitive to perform the assessment. But if the social worker had a good relationship with the client, focused their strengths and explained the assessment openly then positive outcomes were more probable. Furthermore, the parent’s higher vocational education and a smaller number of children were connected to positive outcomes. The study shows that for the social worker it is important to invest in a good client rela- tionship, review the strengths of the family, give a summary of the assessment and to work with the whole family.