The Influence of Macro Factors on Decision Making in Child and Youth Welfare Agencies. A Case Study from Switzerland

Like other countries, Switzerland has established a variety of pathways to child and youth welfare services. These pathways can be differentiated with regard to whether they are voluntary or compulsory (cf. Schnurr, in press).... [ view full abstract ]

Like other countries, Switzerland has established a variety of pathways to child and youth welfare services. These pathways can be differentiated with regard to whether they are voluntary or compulsory (cf. Schnurr, in press). Services provided on a compulsory basis are disposed by the Child and Adult Protection Authority or the Juvenile Justice Authority. Typically, they are combined with a limitation of parental rights. Voluntary cases in contrast are understood as those in which a child welfare agency advises or facilitates the service provision without restricting the rights of the parents. With reference to limited statistical data, it has been estimated that around 60% of children's placements in residential or foster care in Switzerland are arranged on a voluntary basis. Despite this high percentage little is known about the processes, criteria, and considerations taken into account in the decision making on voluntary services.

Furthermore, child and youth welfare services in Switzerland can be roughly divided in out-of-home care (i.e. residential and foster care) and family based services (e.g. home visiting programs). While both types of services can be provided on a voluntary or compulsory basis, compulsory services are firmly regulated according to civil and juvenile law and funding is ensured, whereas regulations and funding on voluntary services differ between the individual cantons (or are even missing). Against this background the question arises, how these unequal regulations and legal frameworks influence the decision making in child and youth welfare agencies in voluntary cases (Duffy/Collins 2010).

This presentation draws on a case study concerning the potentials and limitations of service provision on a voluntary basis. Considering the results from interviews with social workers involved in decision-making, document analyses and a survey with service users, it is shown that especially the provision of family based services is strongly influenced by political and cost considerations and less related to children's and family needs. Paradoxically, a situation has evolved according to which it seems to be easier to place a child in out-of-home care than to provide access to less intrusive services such as family supervision and counselling. In the light of these findings current challenges in decision making on voluntary services are discussed and concrete recommendations for the improvement of voluntary service provision will be given.

Literature:
Duffy, Joe/Collins, Mary Elizabeth (2010). Macro impacts on caseworker decision-making in child welfare: a cross-national comparison. In: European Journal of Social Work. Vol. 13, No. 1, S. 35-54.
Schnurr, Stefan (in press). Child Removal Proceedings in Switzerland. In: Bums, Kenneth/Pösö, Tarja/Skivenes, Marit (Eds). Child Welfare Removals by the State: A Cross-Country Analysis of Decision Making Systems, Oxford (OUP).