A Political History of Child Protection - by Ian Kelvin Hyslop (Paperback)

About the Book

Exploring the current and historical tensions between liberal capitalism and indigenous models of family life, Ian Kelvin Hyslop argues for a new model of child protection in Aotearoa New Zealand and other parts of the Anglophone world.

Book Synopsis

Exploring the current and historical tensions between liberal capitalism and indigenous models of family life, Ian Kelvin Hyslop argues for a new model of child protection in Aotearoa New Zealand and other parts of the Anglophone world.

He puts forward the case that child safety can only be sustainably advanced by policy initiatives which promote social and economic equality and from practice which takes meaningful account of the complex relationship between economic circumstances and the lived realities of service users.

Review Quotes

"Ian's work is accessible and challenging, equipping social workers and leaders to speak up and speak back to structural determinants that can oft feel too hard to tackle. Through a deepening understanding of how we got here we can collectively offer new ways to organise our systems of help." Tony Stanley, Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work

"This book, whilst focused on Aotearoa, has much to teach social workers in colonising and colonised countries about what needs to be done. As well, it is a very clear, articulate detailing about how social work has been the agent of colonisation." British Journal of Social Work

"This is an engrossing read, passionately written with a good dose of hope, yet incisive about the frustrated attempts to enact radical reform in Aotearoa. It will be of value to students, academics and policy makers seeking an in-depth understanding of the topic in Aotearoa, and those interested in systemic child protection reform internationally." Critical Social Policy

About the Author

Ian Kelvin Hyslop is Senior Lecturer in Counselling, Human Services and Social Work at the University of Auckland. He worked in statutory child protection for 20 years of his working life and is passionate about aligning social work practice with the pursuit of social justice.