Although a formal, generally accepted definition of ‘good enough parenting’ is nonexistent, the term is widely used in Dutch youthcare to make important decisions that have a major impact on the...Show moreAlthough a formal, generally accepted definition of ‘good enough parenting’ is nonexistent, the term is widely used in Dutch youthcare to make important decisions that have a major impact on the lives of children and their parents. The aim of this qualitative study is to explore how the concept of 'good enough parenting' is defined and used in research and Dutch Child Protection Services (CPS). In addition, possible influences of personal background of the professional as well as the client on the interpretation of 'good enough parenting' and the attention paid to reflection on this subject were examined. The study was conducted at a certified institution for CPS in the ‘Randstad’. Twenty participants participated in a 45-60 minute long semi-structured interview and five team meetings were observed during the decision-making process about terminating CPS involvement in a specific case. The content was analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Although there are differences in interpretation of 'good enough parenting', in most cases youth care professionals generally (but not always) agreed about the presence or absence of ‘good enough parenting’ based on the given situations. When queried, youth care professionals were able to reflect on the possible influence of personal perspective on the assessment of ‘good enough parenting’ as a result of different (cultural) background and upbringing, although most participants tended to reflect on fellow professionals rather than on themselves. Possible influences of the personal background of the client family or the youth care professional were not discussed during the five observed team meetings. The results of this study contribute to a better understanding of the complex nature of 'good enough parenting' and emphasize awareness of team composition in cultural background and age/workexperience in Dutch CPS.Show less
