Cruzar olhares sobre a intervenção familiar integrada e precoce

: famílias(s) em risco? Percepção das famílias multidesafiadas com crianças em idade pré-escolar em contextos de risco e dos técnicos que as acompanham acerca das suas necessidades e forças

Abstract

The present study is the result of intensive research on the perceptions and representations of multi-challenged families with pre-school aged children at risk. Accompanied by the Social Work Services of the Municipality of Montelavar and its social workers regarding the needs and capacities of these families, this study also presents effective strategies, practices and intervening actions. Analyzing the Integrated Action and Early Counseling and Family Mediation, twenty resident families of the local Parish were queried and followed up by the Municipality with the use of different tools: a socio-demographic questionnaire; Family Needs Analysis (Bailey and Simeonson, 1988); Evaluation Scale of Social Support to the Family (Dunst and Al, 1988); Analysis of Family Routines (Boyce, Jensen, James and Peacokn, 1993); Global Assessment of Assertiveness (EAGA) (Jardim and Pereira, 2006); Global Assessment of Resilience (EAGR) (Jardim and Pereira, 2006) aimed at getting to know families‟ attributes, behaviours and skills, development profiles, formal and informal support networks, the characterization of daily routines and identification of needs. Twelve social workers working in partnership with the Municipality were also heard within the Focus-Group in order to understand how risks are identified; what strategies and action plans are applied to each situation; if they believe in the nature and the scope of the Early Action proposed and if it is understood by families; if they believe in the importance of effective cooperation with these strategies and plans; and what relevant guidelines are needed for creating an integrated project of Early Action within families and children who are at risk. Results show that families regard themselves competent with respect to assertiveness and resilience. They claim to have satisfactory spousal support and consistent routines. However, serious difficulty and fragility is revealed at the information, social and family support levels. We can conclude that Professionals believe in multidisciplinary integrated early action in a network. Several inconsistencies, however, were felt within the internal dynamics of the department due to the difficulty in sharing power and delegating autonomy to families. Both consider it essential to implement an Integrated Early Action Project which will think and adapt social support, individual characteristics and needs to the family, the child and community.

Date of Award	Dec 2011
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Rita Lobo Xavier (Supervisor) & Rosário Carneiro (Co-Supervisor)