2020-08-18, Schoch, Aline, Aeby, Gaëlle, Müller, Brigitte, Cottier, Michelle, Biesel, Kay, Sauthier, Gaëlle, Schnurr, Stefan

As in other European countries, the Swiss child protection system has gone through substantial changes in the course of the 20th century up to today. Increasingly, the needs as well as the participation of children and parents a ected by child protection interventions have become a central concern. In Switzerland, critical debates around care-related detention of children and adults until 1981 have led to the launch of the National Research Program ‘Welfare and Coercion—Past, Present and Future’ (NRP 76), with the aim of understanding past and current welfare practices. This paper is based on our research project, which is part of this national program. We first discuss three overarching concepts—integrity, autonomy and participation—at the heart of a theoretical framework in order to understand the position of parents and children in child protection proceedings. Secondly, we critically analyze the historical and legal development of the child protection system in Switzerland and its e ects on children and parents from 1912 until today. Thirdly, we give an insight into the current Swiss child protection system, with an investigation of hearings of parents and children conducted by the Child and Adult Protection Authorities (CAPA) based on participant observations. In particular, we show the importance of information exchanges and of signs of mutual recognition. Finally, in light of our findings, we discuss the interplay between socio-historical and legal developments in child protection and their consequences for the integrity, autonomy and participation of the people involved.

2013-04-01T00:00:00Z, Müller, Brigitte, Gutmann, Renate, Fellmann, Lukas, Steiner, Olivier

2007, Nordt, Carlos, Müller, Brigitte, Lauber, Christoph, Rössler, Wulf

2005, Müller, Brigitte

2018-12-04, Müller, Brigitte, Fellmann, Lukas

Children with parents with mental health problems have an increased risk of adverse developmental outcomes. Nonetheless, services for these children are still scarce in Switzerland. Therefore, an innovative program was developed, implemented, and evaluated in close practitioner-researcher cooperation. The program aims to support these children by providing lay supporters as so-called “godparents” to them. The program evaluation shows that the continuity of contacts between children and godparents builds the ground for a relationship that fosters the children’s development and relieves their parents. A carefully undertaken process of matching families with godparents appears to be crucial for a lasting godparenthood. However, a main challenge is the acquisition of godparents, who engage on a voluntary basis in the program.

2012-10-15T00:00:00Z, Albermann, Kurt, Gäumann, Christine, Alessi, Monika, Müller, Brigitte, Gutmann, Renate, Gundelfinger, Ronnie

2007, Müller, Brigitte, Nordt, Carlos, Lauber, Christoph, Rössler, Wulf

2016-07, Albermann, Kurt, Müller, Brigitte

2009-09-01T00:00:00Z, Schmid, Holger, Müller, Brigitte, Gutmann, Renate, Nikolic, Varja, Roost, Hans-Peter, Marty-Nussbaumer, Annalis

2007, Müller, Brigitte, Schaffner, Dorothee