Innovative Approaches to Work with Neglected Families: Targeted intervention and support for high -risk families in Child Welfare

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The project deals with families where there is a severe risk for children both in terms of parental care, and the childrens development, their mental health and situation in kindergarten/school. We have identified types of family where the services that a re provided do not reduce the risks for children, or indeed prevent escalating difficulties. A good deal of research is available which indicated that services must more precisely correspond to the children?s needs, and that provision addresses to only a few of the multiple risk factors present, is not adequate. Recent thorough study of user families in Norway also shows that better assessment, more informed choice of supports and interventions, better follow-up and practice-based evaluation are needed. The project design incorporates linkage and interplay between users, service providers, owners of service, researchers and educators to support development of innovative practice in local authorities, building on an already existing network developed in t he project The New Child Welfare: - A development team will help local authority child welfare to introduce changes in practice, applied in a trial period of 18 months. - Changes that are effected for children and families will be monitored in an evalua tion, using a range of interviews and instruments. - The will be a continuous evaluation of the innovation process - Material from the ongoing project and research-based knowledge for innovation will be combined in a study module at master degree level, a lso offered as further training to child welfare staff working in the project. - Gender issues are woven into the families? everyday lives and difficulties and child welfare?s practice, and this will receive special attention. The project rationale build s on appreciation of how research-based and practice-based knowledge are differently grounded, required development of new skills at practice level. The project has a comprehensive plan for dissemination of finding