Taking a stand against racism: The urgent need for SAWUBONA in child protection and foster care social work

Cornish, Carlene ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3488-7968 (2025) Taking a stand against racism: The urgent need for SAWUBONA in child protection and foster care social work. Children and Youth Services Review. ISSN 0190-7409

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Abstract

There is a distinct lack of research on the experiences of birth mothers who had their children removed by Children Protection Services. This article draws on qualitative research that was conducted in 2022–2023 with six ethnic minoritised mothers involved in children social work in England. Due to wordcount restrictions, the paper focuses on the narrative experiences of two birthmothers using Critical Race Theory’s (CRT) counter-storytelling methodology to recount their racialised and oppressive experiences in statutory social work. Using Intersectionality as analytical framework, key findings exposed the invisibility of White dominance and the devastating consequences of racial oppression. Urgent change was required, and key findings influenced the design of SAWUBONA, an Afro-centric culturally sensitive original model built on indigenous knowledge and cultural values. Implications for practice include the recommendation for an immediate integration of indigenous practice models in English Social Work, ethically reflecting the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Data availability statement: The data that has been used is confidential.
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Social Work
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Centres > Centre for Research on Children and Families
Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 22 Jan 2025 01:04
Last Modified: 22 Jan 2025 01:04
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/98290
DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2025.108140

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