Even though there is a gradual shift in knowledge among various practitioners about the issues confronting black African children in the UK especially in terms of the risks they face very few academic publications have attempted to capture the breadth of these in such a comprehensive manner as this book has done. Some cultural and religious practices are known to have significant repercussions for African childrens safeguarding and wellbeing. Adverse experiences including domestic violence and mental health impact negatively on this group of children, yet they are still affected by various forms of maltreatment faced by other groups of children. Suggestions by the book that African children are some of the most at-risk groups of children in the UK are not far-fetched.
This unique publication unearths a whole new repertoire of knowledge which would be very useful for practitioners like myself as well as policymakers, students and academics in better critiquing the issues affecting the lives of African children in the UK. It is a refreshing addition to the academic debate about the resilience of children and it sheds a new light on the adverse conditions affecting children and the role of various actors to help address these.
Debbie Ariyo OBE, CEO, AFRUCA
Much that is said or done on behalf of black children in the UK, whether in policy, research or practice, has often assumed a homogeneity that levels out difference. This book is different, it recognises the heterogeneity of black childrens experiences and the rich contribution of black family life to their well-being. Though it is the case that black children face many of the harms children in the majority population are exposed to, because of racism and discrimination they also face different challenges. Writing from a strengths, rather than deficit focus, and using a systems analytic lens, the authors tackle an array of subjects from the more general such as mental health, community and, domestic violence to more specific challenges such as forced marriage, female genital mutilation and witchcraft-related abuse. With contributions from some of the best scholars writing on black childrens experiences in the UK today, this book addresses some of the structural factors that increase risk to black children, acknowledges their resilience and identifies ways to engage with them and their families. It fills a void in the safeguarding literature; indeed there is none like it. In addition to its practice and policy value, Bernard and Harris have achieved something whose significance cannot be overstated in the current climate, they have re-asserted the importance of progressive, anti-racist social work practice. The overarching message of this book then, is that safeguarding black children simply amounts to good practice for all children.
Professor Adele Jones, The Centre for Child, Family and Youth Research, The University of Huddersfield, UK
This book represents a bold and important departure in navigating the fine line between acknowledging the heterogeneity and strengths of black families and the known and systemised risk factors that mean black children are overrepresented across a range of safeguarding issues. It is truly a tour de force in breadth and in depth, addressing issues facing new migrants as well as those in established black communities. Sometimes challenging and contentious in their investigation, at times painful and moving in the content covered, but always exacting in drawing on the evidence base, these scholars have produced a collection that is a must for contemporary practice.
Professor Charlotte Williams, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
of related interest
Challenging Child Protection
New Directions in Safeguarding Children
Edited by Lorraine Waterhouse and Janice McGhee
ISBN 978 1 84905 395 2
eISBN 978 0 85700 760 5
Practical Guide to Child Protection
The Challenges, Pitfalls and Practical Solutions
Joanna Nicolas
ISBN 978 1 84905 586 4
eISBN 978 1 78450 032 0
The Common-Sense Guide to Improving the Safeguarding of Children
Three Steps to Make A Real Difference
Terry McCarthy
ISBN 978 1 84905 621 2
eISBN 978 1 78450 092 4
Eradicating Child Maltreatment
Evidence-Based Approaches to Prevention and Intervention Across Services
Edited by Arnon Bentovim and Jenny Gray
Foreword by Harriet Ward
ISBN 978 1 84905 449 2
eISBN 978 0 85700 823 7
Working with Families of African Caribbean Origin
Understanding Issues around Immigration and Attachment
Elaine Arnold
Foreword by Gill Gorell Barnes
ISBN 978 1 84310 992 1
eISBN 978 0 85700 542 7
Child Welfare Services for Minority Ethnic Families
The Research Reviewed
June Thoburn, Ashok Chand and Joanne Procter
Introduction by Beverley Prevatt Goldstein
ISBN 978 1 84310 269 4
eISBN 978 1 84642 072 6
Meeting the Needs of Ethnic Minority Children Including Refugee, Black and Mixed Parentage Children
A Handbook for Professionals
Second Edition
Edited by Kedar N. Dwivedi
Foreword by Richard Williams
ISBN 978 1 85302 959 2
eISBN 978 1 84642 691 9
SAFEGUARDING
BLACK CHILDREN
GOOD PRACTICE IN CHILD PROTECTION
Edited by CLAUDIA BERNARD and PERLITA HARRIS
Foreword by JUNE THOBURN
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
London and Philadelphia
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government License v3.0.
First published in 2016
by Jessica Kingsley Publishers
73 Collier Street
London N1 9BE, UK
and
400 Market Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
www.jkp.com
Copyright Jessica Kingsley Publishers 2016
Foreword copyright June Thoburn 2016
Front cover image source: iStockphoto. The cover image is for illustrative purposes only, and any person featuring is a model.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form (including photocopying or storing it in any medium by electronic means and whether or not transiently or incidentally to some other use of this publication) without the written permission of the copyright owner except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 or under the terms of a licence issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, Saffron House, 610 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS. Applications for the copyright owners written permission to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to the publisher.
Warning: The doing of an unauthorised act in relation to a copyright work may result in both a civil claim for damages and criminal prosecution.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Names: Bernard, Claudia, editor. | Harris, Perlita, editor.
Title: Safeguarding black children : good practice in child protection /
edited by Claudia Bernard and Perlita Harris.
Description: London ; Philadelphia : Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2016. |
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2015043043 | ISBN 9781849055697 (alk. paper)
Subjects: LCSH: Child welfare--Great Britain. | Children, Black--Services
