Kin-group care in the Department of Social Welfare: an historical perspective

Abstract

This thesis is an historical perspective of kin-based care of children in the Department of Social Welfare. It involves an analysis of the beginning of State involvement in child protection, child protection issues surrounding the introduction of the Child Welfare Act 1925, and the Children and Young Persons Bill of 1986. A combination of historical research methods were used in this study. These were an analysis of literature based data, and open ended interviews. The sources of literature used were Parliamentary Proceedings, Child Welfare/Social Welfare Annual Reports, plus social work manuals, memos and files held in the National Archives. Reports of inquiries and research regarding Department of social Welfare practices, and reports involving proposed legislation were also used. Six people who had been, or are, social work practitioners in the Child Welfare Division or Social Welfare Department during the 1940's to the 1970's, were interviewed. During data collection particular attention was paid to attitudes, policy and practices regarding kin-based care of children, and any indication of a recognition of culturally appropriate social work, both in policy and practice. The conclusions reached were that the State did not give any consideration to kin-group care of neglected or indigent children either prior to, or in the Child Welfare Act of 1925. Although it was remembered as a policy in the 1950's and 1960's that efforts should be made to keep children within their kin group, practice frequently did not reflect this. This study suggests that a negative view of parents, held by departmental workers, was carried over to include the wider family network, thus acting against kin-group placements. This study concludes that mono-cultural legislation and institutionally racist policy and practice were reasons why kin-group care of Maori children was not provided for in legislation, policy or practice. The Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act came into effect in November, 1989, shortly before this study was completed. This Act recognises the importance of the child's family group/whanau in the care and protection of the child and the importance of culturally appropriate social work practice.