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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%)
8Models Subjects
LegislationBackground
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%)
9Models Subjects
LegislationBackground
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
LegislationBackground
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
12Models Subjects
LegislationBackground
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
LegislationBackground
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
LegislationBackground
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
Models Subjects
LegislationBackground
Challenges
Recommendation
Parents and children we serve
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18
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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
21Models Subjects
LegislationBackground
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
LegislationBackground
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
24Models Subjects
LegislationBackground
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
Models Subjects
LegislationBackground
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
LegislationBackground
Challenges
Recommendation
Three service alternatives
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LegislationBackground
Challenges
Recommendation
Comments 0n three alternatives
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LegislationBackground
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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LegislationBackground
Challenges
Recommendation
Feedback from our parents
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LegislationBackground
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
Models Subjects
LegislationBackground
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
34Models Subjects
LegislationBackground
Challenges
Recommendation
