The Meaning of the Child in Child Welfare: A Case Study of Assessment and Intervention in an Icelandic Context.

Chapter 16 presents a case study of how the Meaning of the Child Interview (MotC) was used in a child welfare context in Iceland. It charts how the MotC was used with other assessment tools drawn from the Dynamic Maturational Model of Attachment and Adaptation (DMM) to make sense of the relationships of seven-year-old Birta, guide intervention, and ultimately support her reunification with her mother, Sara. Through the MotC, Sara’s potential to become more emotionally responsive to Birta’s needs became apparent, whilst also pinpointing areas of concern. The chapter illustrates the MotC analysis, with extracts, and demonstrates how the information was combined with that drawn from other assessments, to develop a plan for intervention and inform treatment. The therapy process, based on Attachment Narrative Therapy (ANT) and Attachment Centred Therapy (ACT), is described and linked to the information derived from the MotC. Its role within the Icelandic Child Welfare process is also described. Integrating information from both child and parental perspectives can inform a holistic and inter-disciplinary support plan to help prevent family and relational breakdown and plan effectively for the child’s needs.