In-home services: A rights-based professional practice meets children’s and families’ needs

Abstract

This chapter discusses how important principles of the CRC inform and challenge the practice of professionals engaged in child welfare services’ preventive in-home measures. The discussion centres on the threefold relationship between the child, the parents and the state. We question where to place the threshold for public intervention in family life, and how to realize children’s rights to services when their parents do not give their consent. Further, we discuss reasons for and consequences following the fact that support to children is primarily strived for through targeting parents. Following important principles of the CRC, we problematize three possible consequences; homogenization of parenthood; reduction of complexity and marginalization of children themselves.