Barnet i barnskyddetts rusmedelsproblematik

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Conceptualisation of substance abuse in child
welfare work
Petra Kouvonen NAD- Nordic Centre for Alcohol and
Drug Research
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Negotiated practices in dealing with substance
abuse

• An etnographic study into 3 so called
  professional family homes in the Helsinki region
• In the PhD my intest lies in a) agencies and
  problem identities produced and negotiated
  within the milieu and b) how the instutions place
  themself in the child welfare field
• Writings in professional magazines (40 issues),
  participatory observations (2007-2008) and
  interviews (n16)?

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Research questions

• How are substance abuse problems taught of in
  contemporary Finnish child welfare work?
• To what extent is childrens own agency and own
  responsibilty of solving the problems emphasised?

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Frames and interpretative repertoires
illustrating limits of action

• So called human service organizations are
  constantly seeking legitimacy for their actions
  and might argue for their actions in reference
  with perceived expectations (Hasenfeld, 1983).
  These expectations creates frames of action
• Interpretative repertoires (Wetherell och Potter,
  1992) illustrates how contextual factors
  contibute to the meaning and legitimacy of
  actions

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Figure 1. Children and young persons placed
outside the home in 1991-2007 , source
http//www.stakes.fi


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Figure 2 Total consumption of alcohol
1960-2007source http//www.stakes.fi/FI/tilastot
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Alcohol and drug policies of the organisations
Organisation 1 accepting subsance use
middleage 16,5 years only boys (6
st)? Organisation 2 ignoring what we dont
see, we dont know 15,75 years gender-mixed (4
st)? Organisation 3 zero-tolerans middleage
11,7 years gender-mixed (6 st)
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Welfare-care
Organisation 3, discussion about
christmas Familyhome parent Markku was with
his adult sister and brother. He couldnt go
home. The mother and father were in really bad
shape. He tried to go the second day, but it
didnt work. The same on new year PK How is
it now the? Familyhome parent I have not
talked to them right now, but I understood that
they did not have any food at homeI called the
social services and asked them to pay something
in advance
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Risk-control
Organisation 2, discussion about one of the
children, who recently arrived home
intoxicated Familyhome parent yes, he (John)
came home intoxicated with Tina, who he had
fooled to drink. He was really drunk and
threatened to kill himself, vaweing with a
chain... I had him to blow. I have the right to
that. Then I didnt let him in. I let Tina in of
course. PK And now? He is expeled now, isnt
he Familyhome parent I dont know and hey
honestly I couldny care less
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Psychological-self control
Organisation 1, discussion about Janne 17 years
and his drinking Anna (employee) Many of them
drinks a lot, but they cope with itbut then
there is Jannefor him it (the drinking) is a
bigger problem. That leaves the other boys to
take care of himthat is unfairwe yelled really
at him last time (when he came home drunk)
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Psychological-self control (continue)?
Organisation 1, meeting about the follow up
care Socialworker has this alcohol thing
ever been investigated? Familyhome parent
well, now everything is getting better when he
starts to get used to live in Helsinki Socialwor
ker is antabus never thaught of..what do you
thinkl. Would you not be in need of any
help? Janne well I do not know Socialworker
but have you noticed that you do not cope with
as much as the others ? Janne ..yes, after the
fifth beer Socialworker now you have to put
in some self control here
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Pragmatic- practical solutions
Organisation 1 discussion about follow-up
care Familyhome parent now first you ought
to manage the scool, only then we can think about
indipendent living Social worker are going to
take a riving licence? Janne Yes Familyhome
parent maybe that will help to keep you away
from drinking
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Repertoires
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Conclusions

• The suitable client (the child) is very much
  expected to take care of him/her self and his/her
  drinking, but might be offered some sort of care
  (antabus, support)?
• Structural aspects might be discussed, but are
  seldom touched in conflicts
• Unclear rules, older children together with
  ignorance seemed to increase the appearence of
  conflicts