Yi-Fen Tseng, Ph.D., L.S.W. Assistant Professor

Mandated intervention for parents involved in

the child welfare system: Personal failure, lack of

education, or both?Yi-Fen Tseng, Ph.D., L.S.W.

Assistant Professor

National Pingtung University of Science and Technology

10, 31, 20131

Presenter's Practice Experience Primary investigator of the “Mandated

Parent-child Education Services Program” contracted with Pingtung County

External supervisor of Children’s Home, At-risk Youth Program, Early Intervention Center, and Single-Mother and their dependent children’s Housing Services

Social worker of women’s welfare, Taipei City Government, Taipei, Taiwan

Executive Secretary, Taipei Association for the Promotion of Women’s Rights

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Outline

Background

Legislation

Subjects

Working models

Challenges

Recommendation

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Location of Taiwan

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The nearest political neighbor

China to the west Korea to the north Japan to the northeast Philippines to the south Pintung is the

most southern county of Taiwan

Characteristics of Pingtung County

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A total of 33 city and townships

geographically long and narrow with one island region ethical variety: Hakka, Taiwanese, aborigine, mainlanders, and new immigrants

Among 22 counties Emigrants: top 5 Inter-racial marriages: ranked 8th

Percentage of population older than 65 years old: ranked 8th

Background of child abuse and neglect in Taiwan

• Mandatory child protection report• Handled child protect cases• Parent-child education

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The improvement of child protection system 1989 – the child protection report hotline was first

established at one metropolitan level 1997 – 113 was implemented at the national level 2003 – children and youths were protected under

one legislation

Mandatory child protection report

More children were reported for child protection today

2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 – 8, 494 (<10,000), 10,722, 13, 986, 19,247

2008, 2009 – 21,443 (>20,000), 21,449 2010, 2011, 2012 – 30,791, 28,955, 35,823

(record high)

7Models Subjects

LegislationBackground

Challenges

Recommendation

Handled child protect cases

Types of abuse in 2012 Physical abuse (5,220, 37%) others (3,266, 23%)

Neglect (n=2,593, 18%) emotional abuse (n=1,382, 10%) sexual abuse (n=1,255, 9%) abandon (n=420, 3%)

Protection and placement services in 2012 At-home care (n=11,893, 85%) institutional care

(n=719, 5%) foster families (n=588, 4%) others (n=461, 3%) kinship care (n=292, 2%) death (n=47, 0.1%)

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Challenges

Recommendation

Prevalence of Parent-child education In 2012, parents are subject to

attend mandated Parent-child Education classes ranging from 8-50 hours

all cases n=270, sum hours of lessons n=5,687

Pingtung cases n=42 (16%), hours of lessons n=392 (7%)

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Challenges

Recommendation

Relevant Legislation

• Legal status of mandated parent-child education

• Mandated parenting education in the current law

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Legal status of mandated parent-child education

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Purposes of mandated parent-child education… child’s best interest, family-oriented, parental functioning recurrence prevention

Child Welfare Law of 1993At least 4 hours of mandated parent-child education classes

Child and Juvenile Welfare Law of 20038-50 hours of mandated parent-child education classes

Before 1993 the passage of child welfare Before 1993 the passage of child welfare Law, Law, parent-child education is voluntarily parent-child education is voluntarily based. based.

Models Subjects


Challenges

Recommendation

Mandated parenting education in the current law “the Protection of Children and

Youths Welfare and Rights Act” Violation of Article 43-1.2, 49-1~11, 49-

15~17, 56-1, 95-1, 96-1, 99 Based on Article 91-1, 97, 101 or 102

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Challenges

Recommendation

Characteristics of Subjects attending mandated parenting education• Demographics of parents

• Types and # of hours of violation

• Heterogeneity of parents

• Diversity of children13

Demographics & info of violation

Types & # of hours of violation On reason of entering the mandated classes, 40.6% parents

involved in neglect, followed by harsh parenting (31.3%), others （ n=8, 25 % ） , and sexual assault （ n=1, 3.1%）

Hours of mandated classes ranged from 8-50; the mode is 32, the median is 24, and the mean is 25.28 . Parents’ mandated hours was not differed by gender (M=25.81≈F=24.75).

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Parents’ demographics• 2013. 1-2013.6 , among 32 active parent cases, half were mothers, with a mean age of 37.63 (F=41.19>M=34.06)

Models Subjects


Challenges

Recommendation

Stereotype of abusive parents？

Fathers Aggressive, moody, threatening attitudes Obedient or punishment Lack of self-esteem, use of parental authority,

corporal punishment for good Weak self-control and frustration tolerance No close friends, overly dependent on family &

spouse Mental disorder, alcohol/drug abuse

Models Subjects


Challenges

Recommendation

Stereotype of abused children？

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Young Girls Minority Difficulty in social skills Cognitive problems Emotional and behavioral problems Developmental problems

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Challenges

Recommendation

Parents and children we serve

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Heterogeneity of parentsVulnerability Mothers: mental

disturbance, repeated pregnancies with cohabiters, alcoholic abuse, dysfunctioning, stubborn, dependent

Fathers: deprived custody by divorce, authoritarian

Couples: spousal boundary is confused with parent-child relationship

Gender neutral: low education, job skills, poverty, poor health, court charge, many young kids

Invulnerability Mothers: being inspired by

pregnancy or new romantic relationship, pursuit of career goals, problem-solving skills

Fathers: anger management, attached w/partner and children

Couples: intimate relationship, respectful, oneness

Gender neutral: hard-working, quality sleep, decent occupation, optimism, social support, parental responsibility

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Challenges

Recommendation

Diversity of children Young children

Developmental delay Weak self-protection Poor role model lack of stimulation

Older children Delinquent peer group Gender identity issue Conflict with caregiver Low academic

achievement

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Children cared by foster parents Experience gap

in caring quality, living condition, and school environment between foster family and family of origin

Parent was yet ready to reunite

Adjustment to changes

Models Subjects


Challenges

Recommendation

Working models

• Strategies to work with involuntary clients

• Targets of mandated parent-child education

• Content of mandated education

• Three service alternatives23

Strategies to work with involuntary clientsSocial Worker Social workers with a

master’s level or direct experiences

Trained to deal with clients’ involuntary issues

Appropriate to work on activating clients’ ecological system and strengths

Intensive contact with other helping members

Field visits (family, jail, etc.)

Counseling Psychologist Psychologists or counselors

with a master’s level Trained to work with

voluntary clients Appropriate to work with

clients with mental disorder or psychological problem

Inform case manager of events such as pregnancy, suicide etc.

Face-to-face interview

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Challenges

Recommendation

Targets of mandated parenting services

Treatment models 1. Counseling2. Parent-child education3. Case management4. 1. + 2. + 3. + 4.

Working relationshipInvoluntary clients in natureFlexibility Link to formal resources

Protective factors Allied cooperationChange in parenting methodsFamily-oriented involvement

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Essential contents 1.Child development2.Effective parenting 3.Family functioning4.Laws and regulations

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Challenges

Recommendation

Content of mandated education

counselors or social workers are guided by a standardized material developed by the federal child’s bureau

gender topics added by service team: clarification and management of intimate relationships, domestic violence and custody, avoidance of repeated pregnancy, and when my child is a gay/lesbian

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Mandated parent-child education material

Child development (2 topics) Effective parenting (4 topics) Family functioning (9 topics) Relevant laws and regulations (6

topics)

Models Subjects


Challenges

Recommendation

Three service alternatives

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Challenges

Recommendation

Comments 0n three alternatives

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Challenges

Recommendation

Challenges

• Strengths and feedback

• Challenges in attendance

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Strengths

1. Affirm parental capabilities: improving self-appreciation/self-care, having surrogate caregivers, being open to new intimate relationships, and taking care of family members

2. Introduce flexibility in use of service alternatives based on resilience, attendance, and incidence of new events

3. Being sensitive in parent-worker match and exercise compliant mechanism

4. Document, implement research and evaluate

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Challenges

Recommendation

Feedback from our parents

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Challenges

Recommendation

Challenges in attendance

1. Child care need

2. Transportation issues

3. Poor self-management and low motivation

4. Abnormal available time

5. Emergent, new event

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Challenges

Recommendation

Recommendations

• Limitations and recommendations

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Limitations and recommendations

1. Too much to call “abusers” ,too narrow to use “individual treatment”

2. Drop-out risks: stable employment, pregnancy, health issues, court order

2. Inconsistency in hours assigned by government and our service team

3. Internal communications between social work and psychologist

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Challenges

Recommendation

END

Thank you！

[email protected] 08-7703202#7739

Yi-Fen Tseng, Ph.D., L.S.W. Assistant Professor

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