Search

ABSTRACT Interventions to enhance positive parenting practices have become a cornerstone of many Western child welfare services. Parental mental health is a crucial factor that influences parenting practices and styles. However, research on the associations between mental health and parenting among parents involved with child welfare services is scarce. The aim of the study was to investigate the associations between self‐reported mental health and parenting practices and emotional style among parents in contact with child welfare services. A cross‐sectional survey was conducted in 2018–2019 (N = 256, 71.5% females). Linear regression analysis, adjusting for potential confounding factors, was conducted. The results indicated that higher levels of anxiety and depression symptoms were significantly associated with a higher degree of inconsistent parenting practices, a lower degree of involving parenting practices and higher levels of emotion coaching parenting style. Socioeconomic status slightly attenuated the associations. The results highlight the importance of considering parental mental health when assessing parenting practices and styles among parents in contact with child welfare services. It is also crucial for child welfare workers to be aware of how parental mental health can affect their parenting practices and to address these issues through their interventions in the family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Social Work is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study evaluated the predictive properties of the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) in 646 Norwegian adolescents (63% males) placed in non-secure, community-based residential care. Using receiver operating characteristics and logistic regression, the study explored the YLS/CMI's efficacy in predicting various recidivism outcomes across subgroups. The inventory demonstrated to be a significant predictor for all categories of offending behavior (area under the curve ranged from.62 to.77). Although the YLS/CMI total risk score showed a robust association with offending across subgroups, there were discernible variations in predictive ability between males and females. This pattern extended to analyses of subdomains and have implications for clinical use. Overall, the findings support the YLS/CMI as a useful tool for predicting delinquency in a Norwegian residential setting and contribute to the expanding body of literature supporting the instrument's utility across various cultures and contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing numbers of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning (LGBTQ) people are becoming foster parents in several western countries. The LGBTQ perspective on the child welfare system has received little attention in practice, research and policy. Despite their increased rights, LGBTQ foster parents continue to face challenges related to fostering. Knowledge is needed on LGBTQ individual perceptions of the process of becoming foster parents, including barriers and facilitating factors. This paper reports on the experiences of 13 gay or lesbian foster parents in Norway. The study shows a lack of knowledge about the possibility of becoming foster parents due to lack of information directed at them as a minority group. Participants felt vulnerable and experienced "minority stress" before encountering the child welfare system, while mainly experienced the encounter with the staff as good and respectful. Although several valued being treated "like everyone else" by the system, others questioned why LGBTQ‐specific parenting issues were not raised and discussed. Apart from lack of information, the process towards foster parenting seemed mostly hampered by participants' own assumptions that sexual identity would be a barrier and to some extent biological parents' refusal. The study suggests that foster care and child welfare services would benefit from information in recruitment of foster parents, aiming at being more inclusive. Furthermore, we address gender and sexuality diversity related to foster care work and highlight the strengths and challenges it may offer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In child welfare policies, as in contemporary society in general, great attention has been given to parenting roles and investing in 'positive' parenting practices. Several studies have suggested that socio‐economic factors frame parenting practices. There is broad evidence of a significant correlation between socio‐economic inequalities and child welfare intervention rates. Nevertheless, few studies have investigated parenting practices in a child welfare population. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between socio‐economic status (SES) and parenting practices in a Norwegian child welfare population. The study was based on a cross‐sectional survey conducted in 2018–2019. The sample consisted of 256 parents (71.5% females). Linear regression analysis, adjusting for potential confounding and intermediate factors, was conducted. Lower SES was associated with higher levels of positive parenting/involvement practices (b = 0.146, CI: 0.026–0.266, P = 0.018), indicating an inverse pattern compared with the general population. When adjusting for symptoms of anxiety and depression, the association was slightly attenuated but remained statistically significant. No significant association was found between SES and inconsistent discipline/other disciplinary practices. The present study offers insights that should be useful in practice and further large‐scale studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual and gender minorities, for example, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth, are overrepresented in the child welfare system and an increasing number of LGBTQ people are becoming foster parents. The objective of this scoping review is to provide an overview of the existing empirical research on the practices of child welfare services towards LGBTQ individuals (i.e., youth, carers and foster parents). The review followed the methodology framework outlined by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). The electronic databases MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, PubMed and Idunn were searched to identify studies appropriate for inclusion. There were 45 studies that met the inclusion criteria; 24 concerned LGBTQ youth, 10 encompassed foster parents, while nine had the service perspective as the primary focus. The studies originated from the USA (k = 34), the UK (k = 6), Australia (k = 2) and the Netherlands (k = 1). Of the included studies, 28 were qualitative, 14 were quantitative, and three studies used mixed method approach. The findings indicate that LGBTQ youth are overrepresented in the child welfare system and that LGBTQ youth and foster parents often face stigma and discrimination. The results reveal a gap in the current knowledge about social workers' attitudes, knowledge and experiences regarding working with LGBTQ individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary: What is known on the subject: Previous studies of interdisciplinarity and nursing responsibilities have mainly focused on outcomes such as patient safety, job satisfaction and organizational factors.Mental health nurses often describe role confusion in relation to other health professionals.Opportunities for interdisciplinary communication with other professionals may benefit health care. What the paper adds to existing knowledge: The current large‐scale study is the first to investigate whether mental health and SUD nurses' perceptions of their opportunities to accommodate patients' needs are related to interdisciplinarity in the treatment unit and a nursing role with clearly defined responsibilities.Strong interdisciplinarity was associated with greater perceived opportunities to accommodate patients' psychosocial, somatic, and economic and legal needs, while strictly defined nursing roles/responsibilities were related to weaker opportunities to do so. What are the implications of practice: The findings highlight the need to address how mental health and SUD nurses organize practice to meet patients' diverse needsInterdisciplinary teamwork could strengthen nurses' ability to address patient needsFinding the best possible balance of providing service in teams or individually could improve resource utilization at the same time as strengthening patient care, and making sure that the patients' various needs are met. Introduction: Nurses' roles in specialist mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment services are multidimensional and complex. Their responsibility, autonomy and interdisciplinary collaboration may be of importance for their perceived opportunities to accommodate patients' health needs. Previous studies of interdisciplinarity and nursing responsibilities have mainly focused on outcomes such as patient safety, job satisfaction and organizational factors, and included relatively small samples. The studies have also mainly been conducted in other sectors than the mental health and SUD nursing sectors. Aim/Question: The aim of this study is to examine the associations between nurses' roles, interdisciplinarity and their perceived opportunities to accommodate patients' psychosocial, somatic and economic/legal needs. Method: A cross‐sectional web‐based questionnaire survey was conducted in a nationwide sample of Norwegian nurses in the mental health, SUD treatment and combined mental health and SUD treatment sectors. Of 5,501 contactable nurses (74% of the population), 1918 (35%) responded. Results: The results revealed that interdisciplinarity was significantly associated with greater perceived opportunity to accommodate patient needs, whereas strictly defined nursing roles/responsibilities were associated with less opportunity to accommodate these needs. Discussion/Implication for practice: Facilitation of interdisciplinary collaboration may improve quality of care for patients in mental health and SUD treatment services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]