Family Diversity in the Spotlight of Social Work

Master’s students in Social Work collaborated with slw Jugendhilfe to examine how perceptions of family shape collaboration with family systems

Under the motto “Understanding Family Diversity – Strengthening Collaboration,” the closing event for the joint research project between slw Jugendhilfe and students in the master’s program “Social Work, Social Policy & Management” was recently held at the Bäckerei.

The research project centered on the question of how professionals’ perceptions of families influence collaboration with different family systems in residential youth care. The observation that families are becoming more diverse and that collaboration with families faces challenges at various levels served as the starting point for the research inquiry led by Gabriele Hell-Pfeifauf (head of slw Jugendhilfe). In five social-educational group homes in the Zillertal and Unterinntal regions, slw Jugendhilfe offers children and adolescents a “professional temporary home.”

Vivien Gerick and Paul Kühler, representing the group of eight students led by Christina Lienhart (MCI), presented insights into the project. They analyzed implicit and explicit conceptions of “family,” which are shaped by personal and professional backgrounds - including education - as well as social, legal, and institutional frameworks. These perceptions influence perceptions, decisions, and communication with family systems. The presentation of the findings highlighted four selected topics: the diversity of family systems, the professionals’ perceptions of family, the specific structure of collaboration at slw Jugendhilfe, and the influence of these perceptions on professional practice.

The study shows that professionals bring with them diverse, predominantly open views of the family, yet at the same time continue to hold images of mothers and fathers that are frequently shaped by traditional and gender-specific stereotypes. The experience of increasing diversity in family systems within residential child welfare settings is framed not only by the pluralization of family forms but, in particular, by a variety of - in some cases cumulative - problem situations. This carries the risk of a deficit-oriented perspective, although there are also indications of attitudes that are, in principle, resource-oriented - or at least a struggle toward such an approach. Collaboration with families is strongly shaped by legal requirements, limited time and personnel resources, and only partially institutionalized procedures, and thus often depends on the individual case and the specific professional involved. Overall, a complex field of action and tension emerges, within which one key element has been identified: A reflective examination of one’s own perceptions of family and gender roles is a key prerequisite for diversity-sensitive cooperation in child and youth welfare - and both require appropriate structural frameworks.

In the panel discussion that followed, Michaela Maurer (team leader at slw Jugendhilfe), Barbara Winkler (DTKJ spokesperson for the Educational Support Working Group), Elli Mayr (deputy mayor of Innsbruck), Christina Lienhart (MCI), Vivien Gerick, and Paul Kühler discussed the findings that had been presented. The exchange of ideas and networking continued in greater depth over a delicious buffet.