Citation

Petras DD, Massat CR, Essex EL. Child Welf. 2002; 81(2): 225-248.

Affiliation

Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois at Chicago, 60607, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, Child Welfare League of America)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12014467

Abstract

The Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (ASFA) mandates policies designed to increase the frequency and speed with which permanency is achieved for children in the child welfare system. ASFA's focus is on child safety, permanency, and well-being. The expectation that parents correct neglectful conditions within specified time frames places an increased ethical responsibility on child welfare staff. Carrying out this responsibility requires vigorous and innovative approaches to engaging and working with neglectful families. Drawing on a well-established conceptual framework for understanding the determinants of effective parenting, the authors derive the ENGAGE (Engagement, Needs assessment, Goal setting, Assessment of progress, Goal achievement, Ending work) model for achieving permanency within the policy structure. The model incorporates creative client engagement, assessment of family needs, mutual goal setting, the goal achievement process, termination, and aftercare.

Language: en