Moving toward Empowerment-Based Practice in Public Child Welfare

Abstract

The concept of empowerment-based practice and its application in public child welfare are explored. First, organizational theory is used to identify characteristics of child welfare agencies that impinge on empowerment-based practice. Second, strategies that child welfare staff can use to become more powerful in their dealings with the agency and community are suggested. Finally, brief suggestions for empowerment-based practice with two client groups are offered: parents experiencing difficulty in child rearing, and children in state custody.