1. 050301 Doing Child Welfare Differently … LAC experiences in 3 cultural and organizational contexts. Umeå University Evelyn Khoo, MSW PhD

2. 050301 ‘The Travelling Idea of LAC’ (Nygren)

3. 050301 The Research Project: Looking After Children in Need Aims : –3 key functions of LAC – BBIC –Implementation in 3 contexts –Opinions Because: Context matters to the 5 Ws and How SWEDISH COUNCIL FOR WORKING LIFE AND SOCIAL RESEARCH

4. 050301 The Research Project: Looking After Children in Need OACAS People Local Sites

5. 050301 Collecting the Data FOCUS GROUPS Managers Social Workers Key Informant Interviews SURVEYS 59 170 165 DOCUMENTS - AAR, Training etc.

6. 050301 Everybody Loves LAC Oh, really?? Not quite…

7. 050301

10. The Enthusiasts  Mostly positive about LAC’s strengths  Important for ‘Best Practices’  Helps decision-making  Strengthens accountability  Time is the greatest barrier

11. 050301 Barnardos Children in a series of short-term placements often miss out on the fundamentals, particularly in regard to peer relationships, self image etc. It improves work with children and families. I wish that DCS would use this tool as I despair over some of the casework they do without LAC guidelines. I feel it is a good monitoring tool for child in care. Yet, it could be made more inclusive to their voices.

12. 050301 Sweden Cautious Optimists Generally positive but wider range of opinions Buy into BBIC’s unique care philosophy Conceptual Map is key Child is in focus Time, Budgets & Organizational Limits

13. 050301 BBIC Kommuns BBIC is a great way to carry out [work. It gives] structure and put the child in focus. But, it is incredibly time consuming. So, follow-up can be delayed and there a risk that too much work is put on administration. It is important to discuss the values behind the concept and come to an agreement on what is most important about BBIC – filling in all the forms correctly or learning to use the ideas behind the triangle or ideas in the forms. It’s easy to get hung up on discussions about all the forms. You have to keep your head out of that if you don’t want to drown and instead discuss and decide on which bits are most important and take one piece at a time. The child is the focus.

14. 050301 CAS Fans and Critics  Mostly positive but not wildly enthusiastic  More varied opinions  AAR focused  An exercise in form-filling  Time and Organization are limits

15. 050301 CAS Looking After Children is child focused. This is great! LAC challenges the fiscal policy of agencies - this is good. LAC is time consuming - this too is good for kids… Workers need policy changes to ensure they have the monies and time or the process will become frustrating for staff. Please ask the children and youth how they feel about this. They feel forced and abnormal (different from their peers in the home). This LAC was to respond to policy and research, not to the interests or needs of children.

16. 050301 Why the similarities & differences? Context has influenced the purpose, meaning and legitimacy of LAC. Context has channelled LAC efforts in specific directions. Translating LAC impacts practice.

17. 050301 What LAC does well Improves parenting standards and practices Guiding practice & decision-making Makes us responsible parents

18. 050301 Problems still… Limiting professional discretion Form-filling Resources –Time –Money –Skills

19. 050301 Lessons Learned Key People Matter –Leaders, ‘fire keepers’, users Training and Support are essential –Initial and ongoing Integration follows implementation –Strategies needed

20. 050301 Khawp khun Cám ón Salamot Gracias Giitus Merci! Thank you! Tack! Danke Kiitos Arigato Ngiyabonga