About the project
This is a qualitative research project based on a social constructionist ontology and epistemology.
The Norwegian child welfare service has a dual and conflicting mandate. This includes investigating children at risk, and also collaborating with their family to help them so that they can create a nourishing family life. This objective is complex and challenging for practitioners.
Practice in case of suspected violence will be explored firstly from the parents' perspective by shedding light on parents' experiences in meeting with the child welfare workers, and secondly from the child welfare workers' perspective by shedding light on their experiences from practice when there is a suspicion of violence. In the last part of the project, the intention is to explore the possibility of developing new practices that recognize the connection between help and protection.
This project will be using Memory Work as a scientific method of exploring the participants’ experiences. Memory work is a collective method based on individual memories written as texts by the participants. The texts, or memories, are analyzed collectively in workshops.
The aim of the project is to develop knowledge that can be of help to child welfare workers when navigating this complex landscape, and balancing conflicting demands and interest. I would like my project to have an impact on the relational meetings between child welfare workers and families, and develop knowledge about how the child welfare service can protect children from violence and abuse, and at the same time collaborate with their parents.
I want to shed light on social and child welfare discourses, with the intention of opening up for new reflections and new practices. I also want to challenge epistemological discourses about what society recognizes as knowledge, and how research findings can be disseminated.
Background
Masters degree in family therapy and systemic practice
Resecearch group
PROBUF (professional practice with children, youth and families)