2016 Volume 19 Issue 2 Pages 176-195
Exploring a suspected sexual abuse case of a junior high school girl, this study examines the approach to a child for family reunification after intervention by a child guidance center. The safety planning approach from the Partnering for Safety (PFS), which integrates various theories including the Solution-Focused Approach (SFA), the Signs of Safety Approach (SoSA) and others, was applied for the case by a child psychologist at the temporary shelter of a child guidance center. ln order to involve the child in the family reunification process, the tools of PFS such as ‘The Future House’, ‘The Family Safety Circles’ and ‘The Safety House’ were applied. Although the child was defensive and her parents continued to deny the sexual abuse change, the tools of PFS focusing on the child's hope and safety acted as a catalyst to build constructive relationship among the child, her parents and the workers of a child guidance center. Eventually, family reunification was achieved as her opinion was reflected in the safety planning. This study shows that supports for children and their parents can be developed interactively by using the tools of PFS, and that it is important for the worker to have an ecological perspective on the person-environment fit.
