Norwegian School Children’s Perceptions of the Child Protection Services

• Published in: Child & adolescent social work journal Vol. 39; no. 3; pp. 337 - 346
• Main Authors: Vis, Svein Arild, Berger, Tonje, Lauritzen, Camilla
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-06-2022; Springer Nature B.V; Springer
• Subjects: Behavioral Science and Psychology; Child Abuse; Child Safety; Child welfare; Children; Children & youth; Clinical Psychology; Misconceptions; Parent participation; Perceptions; Personality and Social Psychology; Protection; Psychology; Risk assessment; Services; Social workers; Sociology; Well being; School children; Child participation; Child protection
• ISSN: 0738-0151; 1573-2797; 1573-2797
• DOI: 10.1007/s10560-022-00822-y

Purpose
Schools can be an arena for age appropriate and objective information about the support families can get from the child protection services (CPS). There is reason to believe that many children have misconceptions about the CPS and are afraid to talk to the social workers who investigates if there is reason to be concerned about a child’s well-being. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of misconceptions about child protection services (CPS) among school children in Norway.
Method
A questionnaire containing 10 statements that measure children’s misconceptions and attitudes about the CPS was developed and distributed to 215 children aged 11–15 years old (M = 12.2 years).
Results
The results showed that 10.7% of the sample have a misconception about children being removed from their homes by CPS and that 17% of the sample had a negative perception of the CPS in general.
Discussion
The child might wrongfully get the impression that it is at risk of being removed from the parents. Participation in assessment and planning may be challenging for a child under such conditions. Therefore, it is important that adults who work with children are aware that these misconceptions are quite common, also among youth.
Implications
The prevalence of misconceptions about CPS among children in the general population as well as those in contact with CPS indicate a need for age-appropriate information. If such misconceptions are prevented it might be easier for children to reach out for help if they or somebody they know, are subject to abuse or neglect.