TY - CHAP
T1 - Understanding and improving public and media awareness of family support services and supports
T2 - Challenges and opportunities for research and practice
AU - McGregor, Caroline
AU - Devaney, Carmel
AU - Gabhainn, Saoirse Nic
AU - O’Connor, Patricia
AU - Daro, Deborah
AU - Mulvihill, Amy
AU - Breen, Alan
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 selection and editorial matter, John Canavan, Carmel Devaney, Caroline McGregor and Aileen Shaw; individual chapters, the contributors.
PY - 2021/1/1
Y1 - 2021/1/1
N2 - Public and media understandings of statutory child welfare services tend to be more focused on child protection rather than support and prevention services. The aim of the public awareness package was to consider how the public can be made more aware of support, prevention and partnership services within Tusla. The chapter provides an overview of the research process engaged in and provides sample findings relating to the public awareness package. Three literature sources that informed the study are summarised: help-seeking, public awareness campaigns and literature relating to the media and child welfare. The authors then report a sample of results from the published findings and discuss how these findings impacted public awareness activities during the study period. They demonstrate the complexity of undertaking moment-in-time, in-process, research where so many of the factors are beyond the control of the parties involved. The chapter gives a sense of ‘real-world’ research where one has to expect a constant process of change and review. The discussion includes reflections on three core themes arising from the work: the need for critical reflection on public understanding of child protection and family support; the value of having a partnership process; and the importance of learning to inform how child welfare agencies can better engage the public and the media to normalise pathways to help-seeking behaviours for children and families.
AB - Public and media understandings of statutory child welfare services tend to be more focused on child protection rather than support and prevention services. The aim of the public awareness package was to consider how the public can be made more aware of support, prevention and partnership services within Tusla. The chapter provides an overview of the research process engaged in and provides sample findings relating to the public awareness package. Three literature sources that informed the study are summarised: help-seeking, public awareness campaigns and literature relating to the media and child welfare. The authors then report a sample of results from the published findings and discuss how these findings impacted public awareness activities during the study period. They demonstrate the complexity of undertaking moment-in-time, in-process, research where so many of the factors are beyond the control of the parties involved. The chapter gives a sense of ‘real-world’ research where one has to expect a constant process of change and review. The discussion includes reflections on three core themes arising from the work: the need for critical reflection on public understanding of child protection and family support; the value of having a partnership process; and the importance of learning to inform how child welfare agencies can better engage the public and the media to normalise pathways to help-seeking behaviours for children and families.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85129406744&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.4324/9781003147527-7
DO - 10.4324/9781003147527-7
M3 - Chapter
AN - SCOPUS:85129406744
SN - 9780367706777
SP - 120
EP - 139
BT - Understanding System Change in Child Protection and Welfare
PB - Taylor and Francis
ER -