Analysing Child Protection Cases Concerning Immigrant Children Through the Lens of Social Justice

• In Event: 64.061 - Immigration and Immigrants in the Trump Era

Abstract

Our research aims to highlight the role and impact of written documents in managing child protection cases concerning immigrant children and their family. Analysing documentation through the lens offered by social justice theory, we examined in depth eight cases of immigrant children handled by welfare services. Reports from educators, police, social workers, psychologists, counsellors and legal advisors were examined to understand how the piling up of documentation supposed to be neutral and unbiased concurs to continuously redefine the boundaries between cultural inclusion and exclusion and reassert the common definition of normality. Moreover, we offer suggestions about how developing a reflexive attitude towards the use of documents would help educators to promote a more cultural-sensitive approach in managing child protection.

Author

• Fabio Dovigo, Aarhus University