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9781849050661 Academic Inspection Copy

Understanding Family Support

Policy, Practice and Theory
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Understanding Family Support provides a definition of family support and a clear perspective on the role that it has in promoting the welfare of children and their families. Family support is a concept that has been used in a range of ways to describe various aspects of child welfare policy and practice. The authors argue that this weakens family support as an overarching child welfare paradigm. They present a unifying definition of family support along with ten principles and a series of reflective practice questions applicable to: legislation and policy; organisation, management and planning; direct work with children and families; and research and evaluation. This is an important resource for any professional engaged in policy development, service design, delivering or evaluation of family support, including social workers, residential care staff, community development workers, teachers, community police, human services managers, evaluators and policy makers.
1. Taking A Position on Family Support. 2. The Policy and Politics of Family Support. 3. Managing and Leading in Family Support. 4. Direct Work with Children, Parents and Communities. 5. Family Support Evaluation. 6. Family Support as a Globalising Agenda.
Particularly noteworthy are the ten principles of family support practice, which could serve as a checklist for practitioners, administrators, policy-makers, and those who wish to extend high-quality family support services globally. The book argues for the importance of theory as the foundation for family support and for rigor, with sensitivity to the needs of individual families, in evaluation. The authors offer sound advice for practitioners and administrators who plan for the future and make decisions about asset allocation in social service agencies. They stress the importance of teamwork across agencies, flexibility in meeting families' needs, and providing a supportive work environment for family support providers. Looking to the future, the authors offer a vision of expanding the model of family support globally, after careful analysis of the cultural and political factors that must be considered in this effort. The book will be useful for students, practitioners, managers, and those who craft policy that influences the lives of children and families.
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