Peer-reviewed article
Good professional practices for promoting positive parenting and child participation in reunification processes
Ainoa Mateos Inchaurrondo, Núria Fuentes-Peláez, Crescencia Pastor Vicente, Anna Mundet Bolós ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examines the attitudes of 106 child protection professionals in Spain towards positive parenting and child participation in family reunification processes. The research finds strong professional consensus that positive parenting skills training and child participation should be incorporated into reunification work. The study notes that older, more experienced professionals are more supportive of promoting child participation. The authors recommend improved training for child protection workers to strengthen positive attitudes towards both parental competencies and children's active involvement in reunification.
Key points
- 106 child protection professionals showed high consensus on incorporating positive parenting into family reunification processes
- Professionals agreed that biological parents should receive parenting skills training as part of reunification support
- There is professional agreement that children in foster care should actively participate in reunification decisions
- Older and more experienced professionals are more open to promoting child participation in reunification processes
- Professionals' attitudes towards parental competencies and child participation are identified as key factors mediating successful reunification
Limitations
The study measures professional attitudes and consensus rather than actual outcomes of reunification processes or the wellbeing of children and families involved. It does not evaluate whether positive attitudes among professionals translate into improved reunification outcomes or child protection.
Abstract
Abstract Professional support of families that are under temporary protection, with the goal of reunification, is necessary for helping families re‐establish their family dynamics. Without this support, the conditions that contributed to child abuse and neglect will likely persist. In this context, the attitude of professionals towards positive parenting and child participation is a decisive factor. The quantitative study presented here contributes knowledge regarding these 2 variables. The study was conducted with 106 professionals who work in the child protection system. The results show a high degree of consensus among professionals regarding the following practices: (a) incorporating positive parenting into family reunification processes; (b) training the biological parents in parenting skills; and (c) promoting the active participation of children in foster care and reunification. Regarding the latter point, the study found that older and more experienced professionals are more open and inclined to promote participation in family reunification processes. The practical implications of the results invite us to review attitudinal competencies training for professionals working in child protection services, focusing on encouraging a positive attitude towards the parental competencies of the biological family and the active participation of children in foster care and reunification. These professionals' attitudes are a key factor in mediating the process of family reunification.