The social ecology of parents and children: implications for the development of child welfare services in the UK

Abstract

This article reviews research into the influence of social environments on the behavior of parents and outcomes for children. The effects of social and economic inequalities on community social support networks and individual health and well-being are examined. In particular, the implications of an ecological perspective, highlighting the links between social environments and the incidence of child abuse and neglect, are considered. It is argued that the UK has failed to incorporate an ecological perspective into its existing policies and practice, which are almost exclusively focused on individual explanations for the health and welfare problems of families living in circumstances of poverty and social deprivation. The limitations imposed by the prevailing child protection discourse and the absence of an ecologically-oriented national policy framework are discussed, together with the ways in which local initiatives might be utilized to develop more effective services directed at improving the quality of life of children and families, rather than stigmatizing and undermining the efforts of those deemed to have 'failed' within existing approaches. Note: Erratum 98/2, page 191: On the PDF at page 74 of 98/1 the first and last name of the author were unintentionally interchanged. The author name should be: Gordon Jack.