Listening to the Voice of Children and Their Families Family Reunification Using the Signs of Safety and the Three Houses Model Kaoru Inoue (Doho University) Naomi Inoue

What We Have Done Translated Sings of safety and Working with Denied Child Abuse Coordinated workshops by Andrew and Sonja Worked as a consultant for child guidance centers and child residential facilities Trained case workers of local governments, and child caretakers and family social workers at child residential facilities Wrote Family-based Child Protection Services: Sings of Safety in Japan

What We Have Done (continue)

Number of Cases Determined to be Child Abuse at Child Guidance Centers Source: Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare (2009)

Placement of the Children Determined to be Abused at Child Guidance Center Source: Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare (2008)

Challengings in Japan Profession of social work has not been established. Japan simultaneously pursues two conflicting goals: children’s safety and family preservation. Children are raised in residential facilities for a long time because we have not made clear procedures and timelines for family preservation and permanency planning. Constructive listening to the children placed in residential facilities for several years about their family reunification is not easy. How can we do it?

A fantastic tool: the Three Houses Model

Hope s Child’s Voice Good Things Worries

HANAKO （６ｙ rs) : using three houses Hanako had been in a children’s home for six years from her birth due to child neglect. We facilitated family group meetings to ensure her safety after going back home, showing her three houses. Hanako, her mother, five siblings, mother’s boyfriend and friend, a case worker of the child guidance center, and the staff of the children’s home attended.

Hanako’s Three Houses House of Worries House of Strengths House of Hopes

Hishida Manager Hirai FSW Mam Brother4 Brother3 Brother1 Sister2 Kaoru I Consultant M’ ｓ -Friend Brother5 White board table Fig. Suppot Meeting The First Family Support Meeting Worries Next step What is going well?

Hirai FSW Brother4 Brother3 Brother1 Sister2 M’s Friend Mam Brother5 YY CGC ｓｗ HANAKO Hishida Manager Kaoru I Consultant Naomi I Consultant Fujisawa Psyc ｈ ologist Table Tea & Cake WB sheet The Second Family Support Meeting

House of Good Things

Who will take Hanako to School? If Mom gets sick? If terrible fights happen? WHAT we can do?

House of Good Things House of Worries House of Hopes WHAT We can do? Subjects at Family Time Next Time

Taro （ 10 ｙ rs): using the child’s voice Taro had been in his children’s home for nine years due to child neglect since he was one year old. Taro has mild mental retardation. Hirai, the Family Social Worker of his children’s home talked with Taro about going back home using the child’s voice.

母 学校 市W市W市W市W 市教 菱田 平井 井上 藤澤 父 Worke r CGCS V Family support meeting (2nd)

Who attend ? What aim is this meeting? Who does support you? （ Ecomap ） What name is this meeting?

Good Things

Worries

Considerations The Three Houses Model and the Child’s Voice help professionals and children collaborate in assessment and planning. Children think about what happened, what they are working with, what they are worried about, what is going well, and what needs to happen for themselves. Drawings, words, and symbols help children understand and get motivated. Posters or photos of them can be shared as records with all the people concerned. Parents are willing to use the same tools to express themselves and share them with their children.