SOCIAL WORK STRATEGIES IN CHILD WELFARE

AND FAMILY PRESERVATION

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN SOCIAL WORK

DIONAMIE D. QUINONES
RODELYN P. PATALINO

2025
 SOCIAL WORK STRATEGIES IN CHILD WELFARE
AND FAMILY PRESERVATION

An Undergraduate Thesis Presented to the Faculty of North Valley

College Foundation Incorporated Lanao, Kidapawan City, in Partial
Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN SOCIAL WORK

DIONAMIE D. QUINONES
RODELYN P. PATALINO

2025
 CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Children are the future prospects of society. The traits, culture,

uniqueness of communities is carried through generations by them.

Therefore, they should be protected and nurtured by the society. It is the

responsibility of parents, families, communities and the nation to serve for

the cause. This article is an earnest effort in understanding the historical,

cultural and social contexts of child protection work. SOURCE

In the Philippines, several agencies are responsible for enforcing

child protection laws and addressing complaints of child abuse or

exploitation. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)

is the lead agency in child protection, while the Philippine National Police

(PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have specialized

units to handle cases of child abuse, exploitation, and trafficking. The

Philippines has robust child protection laws designed to safeguard

children from abuse, exploitation, and neglect. Key legislation includes

Republic Act Nos. 7610, 9262, 9344, 9775, and 9208. These laws provide

comprehensive protection for children and outline severe penalties for

offenders, reflecting the country’s commitment to upholding children’s

rights.
 According to a study of (Yıldız & Tanrıverdi, 2018), the effects of

child abuse in the world are significant. Therefore, child abuse is a global

problem that we must pay attention to (Jameel & Shah, 2020).

Consequently, society members play a role in child abuse and neglect,

especially in low-income families, because of their health and social

impacts of significant risks due to environmental conflict (Ma et al., 2022).

The term ‘child protection agency’ refers to the governmental

centers that have the authority and ability to act through practices through

various measures to protect children and to affirm the right to protect

children through participation and expression of their goals as an active

element (Vaga & Kutsar, 2022). Meanwhile, a community-based child

protection agency (CBCP) is: ‘A group of individuals at community level

who work in a coordinated manner to protect children from harm. It can be

formal or informal, initiated by local volunteers, or led by externally funded

individuals or organizations. These groups operate at the grassroots or

district level as opposed to a national or international level. Some

examples of community-based child protection mechanisms include child

welfare committees, religious groups that support orphans and other

vulnerable children, and traditional processes for responding to violations

against children (The Alliance Group, 2019, para. 7)

In connection to that Child protection services in a community

setting make frontline efforts to protect maltreated children. Frontline

efforts include acts of courage and commitment by social workers,

 teachers, counselors, and child helpline workers. These workers protect

children from neglect and abuse, help them learn, and provide much-

needed connection and empathy

(UNICEF, 2020). Child Protection Office helps protect children from

abuse and maltreatment, ensuring children's health and development

(Gale, 2021). According to Sala Roca (2019), child protection offices are

critical because they offer children a stable place to live, providing a space

for conducive socialization where children learn to interact with one

another.

An essential asset of child protection offices is the child protection

workers. These social workers provide various services to assist children

and families in times of difficulty. These workers frequently work for non-

profit organizations or government employees. They assist families in

resolving disputes and gaining access to social support services. They

might also work for the welfare of children and intervene in cases of abuse

or neglect (Indeed Editorial Team, 2021).

Therefore, in order to address the existing gaps about the Social

Work Strategies in Child Welfare and Family Preservation, the challenges

encountered by the participants in applying social work strategies in child

welfare and family preservation and the motivational factors of the

participants helping them in applying social work strategies in child welfare

and family preservation, future actions will be taken to prevent abusive

behavior are typically called 'Protection.' It can also depict actions that
encourage positive behavior or action. Research has found that effective

interventions against child maltreatment must simultaneously promote

protective factors and reduce risk factors to ensure the well-being of

children (Child Welfare Group, 2017).

Review of Related Literature

To gain more information and to gain a wider view of the study, a

review of related literature will be presented. Books as well as published

and unpublished thesis and dissertation and the use of the internet are

included in this review. These materials are in one way or another related

in the study.

Historical Perspective

Modern child welfare service, where family preservation was first

developed, has its roots in the efforts of the charitable organization in the

19th century to rescue children from abandonment, abuse, neglect and

poverty. During that era, placement in foster family homes and institutions

was seen as necessary to protect children from the harsh conditions

associate with urban industrial growth, including the perceived

drunkenness, pauperism and promiscuity of immigrant parents (Costin,

Karger, & Stoesz, 2018).

In reaction to the specter of in institutions, shipped mass to in the

Midwest, or sent to jails with adult offenders, the notion of children being

raised foster farm families e they shared cells providing services to

 strengthen families and thereby reduce the need for placement arose at

the turn of the century. In 1899, the first juvenile court was established in

Chicago to regulate the treatment an control of dependent children. Social

work, which emerged during this period, has long been concerned with

services for children and families.

Child Protection and Family Preservation

According to Fluke et al., (2016), child welfare workers with less

experience are more likely to prioritize child safety over family

preservation, while workers in supervisory positions are more likely to

prioritize family preservation. This is not to say that supervisors lack care,

but rather that their experience in practicing social work may result in

family-centered care and the value for family preservation is heightened.

As these authors noted, front line social workers “interpret and apply

agency directives in a manner that best aligns with their world views” (p.

210). The extent to which positionality, biases, personal and professional

beliefs, and work environment may impact decision-making and outcomes

for families is not well studied (Fluke et al., 2017). The authors emphasize

the need for ongoing training and support for front-line social workers to

ensure that they have the knowledge and skills necessary to make

informed decisions that prioritize the well-being of families (Fluke et al.,

2016).
 This perspective may allude to shortcomings in social work

programs in universities or may be motivated by new social workers

hoping to support young people independent of their families. Additionally,

social workers with smaller caseloads were found to have better

reunification rates (40%) compared to those with higher caseloads (16%)

(as cited in Deane et al., 2017). This discrepancy was not explicitly

studied; however, reasons such as time for relational care, and less crisis-

based responses were noted. Child protection social workers at MCFD are

not tasked with supporting the families when a child is on a custody order

(TCO, CCO, etc.) therefore, their files require attention to be made for the

child only. With that, there is still responsibility put on social workers to

explore permanency in family and extended kin. Though, case

management is not required.

Relationship building

A strong working alliance- defined as a collaborative partnership

between professionals and families that are characterized by trust, mutual

respect, and shared decision-making- is crucial for successful family

preservation, as it allows professionals to better understand the needs and

goals of the family and to tailor interventions to meet those needs (Steens

et al., 2018). Trusting relationships between families and social workers

allow for families to safely develop insight into their needs as parents

(Rapsey & Rolston, 2020).

 This allows for an environment where parents do not need to hide

their struggles, and instead can access support (Rapsey & Rolston, 2020).

The quality of the relationship between service providers and families is a

critical factor in the success of family preservation interventions. A study

by Walrath et al. (2015) found that the quality of the working alliance

between service providers and families was positively associated with

family preservation outcomes, such as improved family functioning and a

decrease in the number of children placed in out-of-home care. The

authors also note the importance of cultural competence in building a

working alliance, as it allows professionals to understand and respect the

cultural backgrounds of the families they work with (Steens et al., 2018).

Cultural competence in family preservation involves developing knowledge

and skills to effectively work with families from diverse backgrounds, and

to ensure that services and interventions are culturally appropriate and

sensitive. A study by the University of Toronto found that cultural

competence was associated with better outcomes for families, including

improved engagement, retention, and satisfaction with services (George et

al., 2014).

In addition, a study by the Children's Aid Society of Toronto found

that culturally competent service delivery was associated with increased

family stability and a lower likelihood of children being placed in care

(Children's Aid Society of Toronto, 2013). Factors such as in generational

trauma and negative system experiences impact both the families trust
 and engagement in services (Morris et al., 2022). The approaches and

program resources must be conducive to the development of safety and

connection to best support families.

Components of Family Preservation Services

The components of family preservation vary significantly across the

literature. Tracy (2017) describes family preservation as a highly intensive,

brief service that occurs in a client’s home and is based on the following

goals: to protect children, to maintain/strengthen family bonds, to stabilize

crisis situations, to increase the family's skills and competencies and to

facilitate the family's use of informal and formal resources. Long and

Frederico (2014), add that family preservation is for families who are at

risk of having their children removed from their care due to abuse, neglect,

or other issues. They highlight that the program is designed to help

families address the underlying problems that put their children at risk

while keeping them together in their home environment. Similarly, Morris

and colleagues (2022) and Patwardhan and colleagues (2017) describe

family preservation as a program designed to prevent the out-of-home

placement of children by providing intensive and targeted in-home

services to ‘vulnerable families at risk of child maltreatment.’

They emphasize the importance of maintaining the family unit

whenever possible and keeping children connected to their families and

communities. (Morris et al., 2021). Patwardhan and colleagues (2017) add

that the service is crisis-oriented and for families who are at ‘imminent risk’

of having a child placed in out-of-home care. In the article by Fluke and

colleagues (2016), family preservation is seen as a preventive approach

that seeks to address the root causes of families' challenges rather than

solely focusing on the safety of the child. The authors note that family

preservation programs often involve a range of services such as

counseling, parent training, and financial assistance, among others (Fluke

et al., 2016).

Cheng (2010) and Cheng and Lo (2012) found that families who

received financial assistance and housing services were more likely to

reunify. They add that there is a “false dichotomy between child safety and

family preservation” and that it should be viewed as a spectrum (Fluke et

al., 2016, p. 210). Lin and Lee (2016) suggest that family preservation

programs are designed to help families overcome challenges and maintain

their stability. According to these authors, the goal of family preservation is

to promote positive outcomes for both children and families by addressing

the root causes of the family's difficulties and providing them with the

resources they need to overcome them. Steens, Hermans, and van

Regenmortel (2018) describe family preservation as a service delivery

approach that seeks to prevent the removal of children from their families

by providing support, resources, and interventions that address the

underlying issues that put children at risk.

 Family preservation can be delivered as an inpatient intervention

program that is aimed at preventing out-of-home placement by supporting

parents and children in the context of a single residential home (Rapsey &

Rolston, 2020; Deane et al., 2018). The Live-In Family Enhancement

(LIFE) program is led by the Metis Child, Family, and Community Services

in Manitoba. The model includes providing a wide range of resources to

families on a 24-hour basis for 8-to-12-month periods, including individual

and family therapy, cultural and spiritual activities, and life skills training

(Deane et al., 2018). It is based on a strength-based and trauma-informed

approach that emphasizes cultural identity, family engagement, and

community involvement. The program's aim is to address the ‘root causes

of family dysfunction’ and to support families in achieving long-term

healing and stability. The authors stress the importance of the program

being rooted in Indigenous ways of knowing and emphasize that it is an

Indigenous-led initiative. The LIFE program also emphasizes the

importance of incorporating cultural practices and community involvement

into family interventions, which is especially relevant for Indigenous

families who have experienced intergenerational traumas and

disconnection from their cultural heritage and lands.

The program also prioritizes the healing and well-being of both the

child and the family as a whole, recognizing that family preservation

requires addressing underlying issues and strengthening relationships.

 Overall, this article highlights the importance of taking a family-centered

and culturally responsive approach to social work (Deane et al., 2018).

Another residential family preservation program based out of New Zealand

provides intensive support and services to mothers and their children, for

6–12 months while simultaneously providing a parenting skills focused

program aimed to reduce the protection concerns (Rapsey & Rolston,

2020). The program focuses on addressing the underlying issues that may

be contributing to family stress and conflict, such as mental health and

substance abuse problems, and provides families with the resources and

support they need to address these issues and build stronger

relationships. The effectiveness to reduce risk of future out-of-home

placements in this program still needs to be researched (Rapsey &

Rolston, 2020).

Standardized social work methods for working with children at risk

Assessment Social workers conduct a comprehensive assessment to

understand the child's situation, including the nature and extent of the

abuse, the child's immediate needs, and available support systems.

Standardized assessment tools can help gather relevant information.

An assessment model used by Cambridgeshire County Council in the UK

(2020) is that the child should be included in the assessment process

according to their age, identity, and understanding and that the

assessment should be conducted along with the social worker. The social
worker should work directly with the child to understand their needs. The

assessment should focus on the child.

Trauma-informed care: Social workers practicing trauma-informed care

are aware of the impact of trauma on a child's emotional and

psychological health. They design effective interventions in a safe and

stimulating environment. According to the Northern Australian

Government Department of Child Protection (2022), the practice approach

of child-based trauma-informed care is based on safety, family support to

assist caregivers by addressing concerns about the harmed child, support

for child and family reunification, and the use of adoption processes. It is

based on appropriateness.

Putting the child's best interests first: social workers treat children

appropriately according to their stage of development, actively listen to

their concerns, and involve them in choices about their care and safety.

This approach focuses on community-based child protection mechanisms

and procedures that prioritize the best interests of the child (UNHCR,

2021). (4) Safety planning: The development of safety plans is necessary

to protect abused children from future harm. Social workers work with

families and other key partners to develop a safety plan customized to the

child's risks and needs. In its plan to keep children safe, the Philippine

Government established the Department of Social Services (2020) to help

parents listen and find solutions to their children's problems, as well as to

help organizations understand and address existing problems. They strive

to focus on and support the child in their care.

Standardized Social Work Strategies working with at-risk children

Social workers use standardized strategies, competencies and

approaches to help abused children in care in child protection institutions.

The main strategies often used by social workers are: Crisis intervention:

Children who have been abused can be at serious risk or severely

distressed. Social workers therefore use a crisis intervention approach

through a training approach for child protection workers led by a child care

trainer with crisis intervention experience (Holden, 2022) to protect and

emotionally support children. This is a method of dealing with crises by

accurately identifying the purpose that created the crisis, determining why

the crisis was created, developing a scientific intervention plan, and

tailoring the intervention to the crisis for each case (Asiri, 2020).

Case management: Good case management involves organizing services,

understanding development, and representing the needs of the child.

Social workers ensure that everyone has access to and utilizes all

available resources. According to the Global Social Work Workforce

Alliance (2016), case management of children at risk is described in seven

interrelated steps. Previous steps can be returned if the level of severity

 requires it. The steps start with the identification of the case, followed, if

necessary, by case registration. Then, once the assessment of the child

on an individual basis has been completed, the appropriate support for the

child is assessed. The next step is to implement the action plan through

direct support to the child. The last step is to follow up on the case and

make sure that the goals of the plan are achieved. Finally, if the objectives

are met, the case is closed.

Established strategies for ensuring the children’s safety and

wellbeing

The interviews also provided insight into the approaches, skills, and

therapeutic services needed to support children at risk of admission to

child protection institutions. The interviews revealed that child protection

workers adopt a range of approaches to ensure the welfare and safety of

abused children admitted to child protection institutions. These strategies

include: 1) Providing a safe and private environment where children can

speak freely; according to Scourfield (2018), child protection can be

facilitated when children feel respected. 2) Teaching children at risk and

their families how to identify and avoid potential perpetrators; Bhabha

(2018) suggests different ways of identifying and avoiding such

perpetrators. (3) Developing measures to protect children from violence;

according to Mathews Collin-Vézina (2019), these measures include

conducting thorough research before legislation is adopted and involving

all stakeholders in the process of creating and formulating legislation.

According to Scourfield (2019), Bhabha (2018), and Mathews & Collin-

Vézina (2019), the need to provide a safe and supportive environment for

abused children is emphasized. Indeed, various studies emphasize the

importance of providing a safe and private environment for abused

children to share their experiences of neglect and abuse; NASW (2021)

states that privacy and confidentiality are essential when interacting with

abused children. Furthermore, a variety of interventions, including safety

measures, have been shown to reduce the likelihood of recurrence of

abuse and harm and improve the well-being and safety of abused

children.

Counselling services specifically for maltreated children

Counseling services provided to abused children. Interviews revealed that

psychologists working in child welfare centers frequently provide

counseling services to abused children. These services are designed to

meet the psychological and emotional needs of abused and neglected

children. While some respondents indicated that providing counseling and

guidance is part of their work, a significant number of respondents

indicated that these services are primarily provided by specialized

agencies and external organizations.

 Abu Rumman et al. (2018) noted that there are centers where the role of

social workers and counseling is not activated, as this risks leading to an

aversion to this expertise. Therefore, legislation and policies regarding the

role of social workers should be established. Previous research has often

highlighted the value of psychosocial interventions for abused and

neglected children; Hussain (2018) highlights the effectiveness of

evidence-based therapy in minimizing trauma-related symptoms in abused

children. Scourfield (2019) emphasizes the need for understanding the

level of the child before interventions.

Safety plans for maltreated children

Safety planning is needed to ensure the continued well-being and safety

of abused children when they are reunified with their caregivers and

placed in care. Safety planning is undoubtedly an essential component of

child protection programs, particularly in the reunification of abused

children with their parents or caregivers. Preventive measures need to be

identified, potential risks assessed and procedures put in place to ensure

the safety and well-being of children upon reunification with their families

(Olszowy et al., 2020).

A well-implemented safety plan reduces the likelihood of maltreatment

recurring and promotes positive outcomes for children and families.

Consequently, the safety and well-being of maltreated children is

 jeopardized by the lack of a family safety plan. The lack of adequate

safety planning can have several harmful effects. First, children may be

exposed to repeated neglect and abuse. Research shows that the lack of

a safety plan increases the likelihood of repeated abuse and re-entry into

the child protection system (Kress et al., 2012) The ability of child

protection workers to adequately analyze and support families is

hampered by the lack of a planned approach and possibly the inability to

address persistent threats and barriers.

Theoretical Framework

Family Systems Theory (FST)

Is an approach to understand human functioning that focuses on

interactions between people in a family and between the family and the

context(s) in which that family is embedded. Family systems theory has

been applied to a wide variety of areas including psychotherapy in general

and family therapy in particular (working from a systems framework with

emotional, behavioral, or relational symptoms in individual, couples, and

families); school systems; community problems (e.g., working with

polarized disputes and facilitating ‘difficult conversations’ as in the Public

Conversations Project, peace studies, nonviolence training); organizations

(consulting, leadership training, coaching); and health care (medical family

 therapy – tracking the emotional dynamics of illness and facilitating

collaboration among patients, families, providers, and health care

systems) (Allan, M., 2019).

According to a family systems perspective, an individual's

functioning is determined not so much by intrapsychic factors as by a

person's place in the system(s) in which he or she finds himself or herself,

subject to the pushes and pulls of the system, including competing

emotional demands, role definitions and expectations, boundary and

hierarchy issues, coalitions and collusions, loyalty conflicts, family and

institutional culture and belief systems, double binds, projective

identifications, and systemic anxiety. In addition, self-correcting and self-

reinforcing feedback loops in a system can either facilitate or hinder

pathology or health, breakdown or resilience (Allan, M., 2019).

Moreover, on the study of Allan, M., (2019), a thorough

understanding of family systems theory requires an elucidation of the

foundational contributions of systems theory itself. Systems theory is a

field that informed and inspired the founders of the family therapy field and

upon which family systems theory is based in many important respects.

Unfortunately, as the field of family therapy has developed, the important

contributions of systems theory to the theoretical foundations of the field

have too often been neglected, undervalued, or only dimly understood.

The following discussion will review the key concepts of systems theory

that are most relevant to family systems theory and family therapy,
 followed by a description of the primary schools of family therapy and

enduring family systems concepts and family therapy techniques. The

concepts throughout will be illustrated with both actual and hypothetical

clinical case examples.

In connection to that, family systems theory, central to social work,

views the family as an interconnected unit where each member shapes

and is shaped by others. It emphasizes reciprocal relationships,

communication patterns, roles, and boundaries within families.

Understanding family systems is crucial in recognizing the interplay

between family dynamics and individual well-being. Social workers

support positive change by assessing family functioning, addressing

relational dynamics, and enhancing overall well-being. This theory offers

insights into the root causes of individual struggles, informing interventions

for resilience and healing within the family unit (Jacob, T., 2021).

Generally, in family systems theory, the family is viewed as a

system composed of interrelated parts, such that a problem for any

member of a family has an effect on all others, and changes in any

member result in adaptations among all other family members.

Social Welfare Theory (SWT)

Social welfare theory is the branch of study that analyzes and

formulates propositions about the social welfare in different economic

situations. It focuses on the analysis of social welfare, which is defined as

the happiness of individuals in a society. The concept of welfare separates

the subjective/hedonic element from the eudemonic element, considering

the latter as an issue in morality rather than in the concept of welfare or

happiness (Marco, G., 2018). Theories of welfare have been developed in

various social science disciplines, each with its own historical and

intellectual background, value assumptions, and theoretical concepts.

These theories can be categorized into groups such as hedonistic, desire

theories, and objective list theories in philosophy, and developmental

psychology, personality psychology, and clinical psychology in

psychology.

According to him, the impact of digital technologies on well-being is

also examined, with varying assessments of its effects on different social

groups. The notion of a welfare state is seen as an ideological

construction influenced by the accumulation of capital, and concepts like

"commodification" and "de-commodification" are criticized in welfare

theory. A constructive approach to evaluating social welfare is proposed,

prioritizing the worse-off and respecting individual preferences over

consumption, work, and leisure.

Research Objectives

1. To understand the experiences of Social Workers in implementing

child welfare and family preservation strategies.

 2. To investigate the challenges that Social Workers face in balancing

child safety and family preservation goals.

3. To explore the perceptions of families regarding the effectiveness

of Social Work interventions in preserving family unity.

Scope and Limitations of the study

Generally, this study focuses mainly on the social worker strategies

in child welfare and family preservation. The participants of the study are

also limited to the selected Social Worker who handled CICL (Child In-

Conflict with the Law) in North Cotabato.

Definition of Terms

In order to understand the different terms in the study, the following

terminologies were defined operationally.

Social Work- it refers to course or a profession in which trained

professionals are devoted to helping vulnerable people and communities

work through challenges they face in everyday life.

Strategies – it refers to case management, counseling, advocacy,

education, and community organization. A social worker chooses

strategies based on a client's situation and goals.

Child Welfare – it refers to specialize in building upon the strengths within

a family and their community to help provide a safe and loving

environment for their children.

 Family Preservation- refers to the process of strengthening families so

they can stay together and thrive. It is a proactive approach that helps

families identify and address the issues that put them at risk of separating.

Student- it refers to the person who is exploring their roles as social work

students in addressing their problems in the school context.

Expected Outputs of the Study

This study is expected to determine the social worker strategies in

exploring and addressing their problems regarding child welfare and family

preservation in North Cotabato.

CHAPTER 2

METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the methods and procedures that will be used in this

study which include research design of the respondents of the study, role

of the researcher, research participants and materials to be used, data

collection procedure and data analysis.

Research Design
This research will use descriptive-qualitative research design considered

appropriate because it enables the researcher to generate non-numerical

data through in-depth interview procedures.

The descriptive part will be used to determine the role of the social

workers who in exploring their problems in handling Child Welfare in the

agaThe qualitative part will be used to investigate the social workers’ roles

in exploring their problems in the context of school for the school year

2024-2025.

Research Locale and Participants

The participants of this study will be five (5) purposively selected Social

Workers who handled CICL (Child In-Conflict with the Law) in Kidapawan

City. They should be active and regular Social Workers.

The researcher will utilize a self-made questionnaire instrument for in-

depth interviews validated by an expert. These include a letter of

permission given to the dean, and to the participants of the study. The

researcher will use a recorder, specifically a cell phone device to record

the responses of the participants.

Research Instrument

In this study, the researchers will utilize the following materials to gather

data: interview guide questions and audio/voice recorder. Interview guide

questions as a research instrument that serve as the lead for the

 researchers to ask the informants efficiently in answering the research

questions and lead the informants themselves to construct their responses

and provide comprehensive information about the topic. Moreover, the

interview guide questions are composing two (2) main questions with

corresponding probing questions to ensure that the informants elaborate

their answers. On the other hand, a voice or audio recorder are used to

document the response of each informant from answering the set guided

questions provided by the researchers.

Data Gathering Procedure

A letter of permission to conduct this study was sent to the Dean of North

Valley Colleges Inc. After the approval, a letter of consent will be

forwarded to the selected participants of the study. Upon the approval of

all, the researcher will personally orient the participants regarding the

mechanics of research work, and then administer the interview following

the guide questions for in-depth interview. The researcher will use a

recorder, specifically a cell phone device to obtain the responses of the

participants. The data gathered from the respondents will be analyzed and

interpreted.

Data Analysis

This study will utilize the following data tools in analyzing the

gathered data. This research study will use thematic analysis to determine
 the roles of the social workers, challenges they have encountered, and

motivational factors that the participants have in exploring their problems

in the context of school for the school year 2024-2025.

Validity

The researchers will have their research guide questionnaires subjected

for face validation to the expert, prior to administration of the interview.

After validation, the researchers will now formally administer the interview

with the use of the validated guide questionnaires.

The face validity is considered the most basic type of validity and it is

associated with a highest level of subjectivity; ensuring that the survey

questionnaires of this study do not contain common errors such as

leading, confusing or double-barreled questions.

Trustworthiness

To ensure and support the quality of the study, researchers employ

the consensus of trustworthiness. Trustworthiness will be the degree of

confidence in interpretation, methods and data (Polit & Beck, 2014). The

optimal parameters for determining trustworthiness are frequently

contested by qualitative researchers. However, four (4) most pertinent

consensuses are commonly used: credibility, transferability, dependability

and confirmability (Kyngas, Kaariainen & Elo, 2020). The overall study will

be validating these four (4) parameters.

Credibility refers to the truth of the data or the participant views and the

interpretation and representation of them by the researcher (Polit & Beck,

2012). Researchers will employ credibility by entailing that the findings of

study are plausible in the perception of the research participants. In

addition, interview guided questions will be validated by the research

adviser to ensure that the data gathered represents true phenomena.

Transferability points to the extent to which findings are useful to other

settings and readers determine how applicable the findings are to their

situations (Polit & Beck, 2014). Researchers will provide adequate detail

of context such as transcriptions and audit trails for readers to note and

compare them to specific environments they are familiar with.

Dependability indicates that the findings are consistent and could be

replicated (Kyngäs et al., 2020). Researchers will present the study to

research experts to validate and construct various hypothetical notions for

them to review. Moreover, related articles are consulted by the

researchers prior to the discussion of the study.

Conformability is the extent to which the findings of the inquiry could be

validated or corroborated by other researchers, and it is concerned with

demonstrating that the data and interpretations of the findings are clearly

drawn from the data and not in the researcher’s imagination. (Baxter &
 Eyles, 1997; Tobin & Begley, 2004). Researchers will address

confirmability through audit trail and documentation of the study.

Ethical Consideration

The researchers will give the participants a written consent form, and they

will discuss with them the benefits and condition of their participation. The

participants will voluntarily join the study, and they may express their

withdrawal anytime or discontinue the interview or request that their

interview data be disregarded at any time. The researchers will be

securing the data for privacy purposes. All participants will be treated fairly

and will not be discriminated against in any way. The recorded video and

verbal interview shall not be uploaded to any online platforms and will not

be reused. The participants will be assigned a code name. The list

connecting their name to the code name and this informed consent will be

kept. When the study is completed and the data have been analyzed, the

list and the recorded files will be destroyed. The researchers would also

ask the participants for permission to record the session during the

interview. The recording will be used to transcribe the results.

The study will use one research instrument, the in-depth interview

guide done virtually. It will be utilized to explore the problems of Social

Workers who handled CICL (Child In-Conflict with the Law) in Kidapawan

City.
 Role of the Researcher

The researchers will conduct this study to collect, analyse, and interpret

data about the roles of Social Workers who handled CICL (Child In-

Conflict with the Law) in Kidapawan City.

The researcher is expected to show ethical consideration to the

participants, to the gathered data and result of the study.

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Asiri, A. (2020). Crisis Management in Governmental Kindergarten in

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Baggett, K. M., Davis, B., Olwit, C., & Feil, E. G. (2023). Pre-intervention
child maltreatment risks, intervention engagement, and effects on child
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designing and conducting in-depth interviews for evaluation input.

Brend, D. M., & Collin-Vézina, D. (2021). Stronger together: Workplace

social support among residential child welfare professionals. Child Abuse
& Neglect, 130(3), 105302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105302

Cambridgeshire County Council's. (2020). Cambridgeshire and

Peterborough Children’s Services Procedures Manual. CCC.

Child Welfare Group. (2017). Child Maltreatment Prevention: Past,

Present, and Future. Child Welfare Information Gateway.

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Mixed Methods Approaches. Sage.

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design: Choosing among five approaches. SAGE Publications.

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Pei, F. (2021). Factors that inhibit and promote resilience following
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APPENDICES

Informed Consent

INFORMED CONSENT STATEMENT

Introduction

This study is entitled Social Work Strategies in Child Welfare and Family

Preservation.
 Purpose

This study is in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the program.

Bachelor of Science in Social Work.

Process

The focus of the study is to determine the strategies of social work in child

welfare and family preservation.

Participant Confidentiality

All information gathered for the study including opinions and personal

information, well be treated with the highest confidentiality. This will be

utilized exclusively.

Cancellation Of Consent and Authorization. The participation in this

study is voluntary. You may inform the researcher if you wish not to

participate or to answer the interview.

 Research Instrument

Interview Question Guide

Research Interview Question Probing Question

Objectives Main Question

1. To understand 1. What are the 1. How do social

the experience of social work workers balance the

social workers in strategies in child need for child

protection with the

implementing child welfare and family
goal of family
welfare and family preservation in
preservation, and
preservation terms of
what specific
strategies. A. Family
strategies are most
B. Education
effective in
C. Community
supporting families

to stay together

while ensuring the

safety and well-

being of the child?"

2. To investigate the 2. What are the 1. What are the key

challenges that challenges barriers social

Social Workers face encountered by the workers encounter

when trying to
in balancing child participants in
implement effective
safety and family applying social work
strategies in child
preservation goals. strategies in child
welfare and family
welfare and family
 preservation? preservation, and

how do these

challenges impact

their ability to

support families in

maintaining child

safety and well-

being.

3.To explore the 3.What are the 3. What personal,

perceptions of motivational factors professional, or

families regarding of the participants contextual factors

influence social
the effectiveness of helping them in
workers'
Social Work applying social work
commitment to
interventions in strategies in child
applying strategies
preserving family welfare and family
for child welfare and
unity. preservation?
family preservation.