The power of words in child protection: why it matters

When it comes to child protection, the words we use make a huge difference. Our new paper dives into how the language used by professionals can either help or harm families facing tough situations. Here are some key takeaways:

1. Words Can Hurt or Heal: We point out that terms like "high-risk" or "vulnerable" can make families feel judged and unwelcome. This can discourage families from seeking the help they need. It's a reminder that our words carry weight and can impact how people feel about getting support.

2. The Backstory Matters: The way we talk about child protection is influenced by historical and social contexts. Many current practices are based on old assumptions and biases, which can keep families stuck in cycles of disadvantage.

3. A Better Approach: A public health approach to child protection means focusing on prevention, early support, and intervention to address the root causes of problems affecting children's well-being.

4. Highlighting Strengths: Instead of focusing on what's wrong, we argue for strengths-based language. This means recognizing and building on the resilience and strengths of families, which can help build trust and encourage them to engage with support services.

5. Checking Our Biases: We emphasize the importance of professionals reflecting on their own biases and assumptions. By doing this, professionals can better understand the complex realities faced by families and provide more empathetic and effective support.

6. Policy Changes Needed: Finally, we call for policy changes that promote strengths-based, interprofessional approaches. For example, national policies should be designed to reduce marginalisation and support the well-being of all children and families.

In a nutshell, our new paper is a call to action for professionals and policymakers to rethink the language and approaches used in child protection. By adopting a more empathetic and strengths-based perspective, we can create a more supportive and effective system for families and children in need.

Our full paper is freely accessible here.

Acknowledgements: Writing of this post was facilitated by Artificial Intelligence - Microsoft Copilot.