• ISBN13: 9781138225848
• Binding: Paperback
• Subject: Sociology and Anthropology
• Publisher: T&F
• Publisher Imprint: Routledge
• Publication Date: January 1, 2017
• Pages: 264
• Original Price: GBP 48.99
• Language: English
• Edition: N/A
• Item Weight: 386 grams
• BISAC Subject(s): Social Work and Public Policy / Social Services & Welfare

Multiculturalism in Western countries continues to grow, but responsiveness to it with culturally sensitive research, policy and practice has been slower to develop. This lag could be accused of enabling institutional racism - that is, culturally insensitive practices and policies can cause or perpetuate harm to non-mainstream children and families, the very thing that child protection systems are set up to address. Thus, it is critical that the field has a resource that clearly and comprehensively outlines the characteristics of cultural competency in the child protection system when working with ethnic minorities and across both mainstream and non-mainstream cultures, so as to equally protect the safety of all children. Unlike previous research, this book addresses discrete and relevant practice issues - how to work effectively with interpreters, whether or not to match caseworkers and clients based on ethnic background and what to consider when making plans for children in the out-of-home-care (OOHC) system - with best practice guidelines. This book will be required reading for all social work students, academics and practitioners whose work engages with issues of cultural competency.

Pooja Sawrikar is Postdoctoral Fellow in Social Policy at Griffith University, Australia.