What do we need for a successful intervention? The case of one Israeli family in deep distress

Abstract

This paper describes the steps-on-the-way to a successful intervention with one Israeli family in deep distress. The case study outlines the work of a support centre in a welfare agency in relation to the growing poverty cycle in Israel and the local and national welfare context. Partnership between researchers and social workers, the researchers’ analysis of case records and their interviews with the social workers elucidated the process of help. This allowed the researchers to provide different perspectives for possible help to the family. Our findings indicated that wrapping the family with concrete services does not necessarily ensure the collaboration that may lead to a successful intervention. In this case study, the critical ingredients enabling progress in the process of treatment were respecting the client and containing her difficulty. 

Portions of this manuscript are revised from a prior publication: Zeira, A. (in press). Steps on the way to a successful intervention: The case of an Israeli family in deep distress. In A.N. Maluccio, C. Canali, & T, Vecchiato (Eds.), Measuring succes in child welfare. London: Oxford University Press. 
Revision is included here with permission of the publisher.