Reassessing Attachment Theory in Child Welfare

Reassessing Attachment Theory in Child Welfare explores controversies related to increasing diagnoses of 'attachment disorder' in child welfare assessments and arguments both for and against the use of attachment specific therapies for children in care. The author calls for a new pedagogy of relational child welfare and considers the relevance of attachment theory to transnational and migrant families, refugees fleeing conflict, adoptive and surrogate children in diverse families as well as taking into account the increased number of families that are in poverty after the global financial crisis.

“"This book is very engagingly written and provides a comprehensive and informative critique. I appreciate its balanced presentation of both limitations and value of attachment theory in current contexts". Pam Joseph, University of Sydney”

"Reassessing Attachment Theory in Child Welfare is an incredibly valuable intervention into debates about the use of attachment theory and research by practitioners. The authors highlight major discrepancies between the accounts of attachment of researches and of practitioners and offer some timely cautions. They also present an insightful account of why attachment theory - or, at least, a cut-down version of it - has had such appeal for child welfare practice. A terrific contribution to the literature." Matthew Gibson, University of Birmingham

Sue White is Professor of Social Work at the University of Sheffield.Matthew Gibson is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Social Work and Social Care at the University of Birmingham.David Wastell is Emeritus Professor of Information Systems at Nottingham University Business School.Patricia Walsh recently retired from the School of Social Work and Social Policy at Trinity College Dublin after 25 years as a social work academic.

Reassessing Attachment Theory in Child Welfare explores controversies related to increasing diagnoses of 'attachment disorder' in child welfare assessments and arguments both for and against the use of attachment specific therapies for children in care. The author calls for a new pedagogy of relational child welfare and considers the relevance of attachment theory to transnational and migrant families, refugees fleeing conflict, adoptive and surrogate children in diverse families as well as taking into account the increased number of families that are in poverty after the global financial crisis.

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