Culture, Language, and Trust: Helping Families Understand One Another
Updated: Oct 14
Written by Tanyah Cain, Cain MindSYNC, in collaboration with Folket vs. Barnevernet.
Purpose and position: This article argues for a substantial need for research into lived experience. Research gaps must prompt closer scrutiny of child welfare practice; they must not be used to dismiss children’s and parents’ accounts. Intrusive decisions and substantial resource use demand better knowledge about the decision-making basis, adapted support and actual outcomes. Experiences shared with FvsB help formulate questions to investigate; they are not presented as representative prevalence estimates.
The practical question is where children and families experience gaps between assessment, promised support and the help actually delivered. We need to examine relevant alternative explanations, suitable adaptations and whether intervention changes life for the better.
At the heart of it
AI-generated illustration. The image does not depict a real event.
Sound casework requires children and families to understand what is happening. Child welfare services also need to consider how language, culture, and past experiences shape communication. Culture should not become a shortcut for explaining individuals.
Language is part of the evidence base
When a family and service do not share a language well enough, nuance can be lost. Children may also end up interpreting for adults. A qualified interpreter, clear information, and checks for understanding can prevent misunderstandings. At the same time, services should learn about the particular family’s practices and needs rather than draw conclusions from group identity. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health’s review on children’s participation identifies communication, adapted information, and trust as important challenges, including misunderstandings between minority families and services. This supports attention and accommodation, but does not justify assuming that all minority families have the same experience.
Practical steps
Ask which language the family prefers, explain professional terms in ordinary language, and invite them to describe what they understood. Be clear about applicable rules and expectations, and invite the family to explain what matters for the child in their own context.
Evidence note
This field is complex and varies by language, situation, and service context. Good communication is a quality requirement, not a guarantee that people will agree with the outcome.
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