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Submission Number: 134
Submission ID: 958
Submission UUID: da9d3133-6b21-4b49-9986-2b8c6446c994
Submission URI: /2025/abstracts

Created: Wed, 05/07/2025 - 07:38
Completed: Wed, 05/07/2025 - 07:42
Changed: Thu, 05/29/2025 - 08:01

Remote IP address: 165.73.187.143
Submitted by: Anonymous
Language: English

Is draft: No
Current page: Complete
Webform: Abstract
Title Ms.
Lastname Duvenage
Firstname Elza
eMail elza@mediationplus.co.za
Mobile 0845816386
Institution North-west university
Biosketch Elza Duvenage is a registered South African social worker with over a decade of experience in child protection, geriatric care, family mediation, and psychosocial support. She holds a Master of Social Work in Child Protection from North-West University and currently leads geriatric social work services at SAVF Fochville Elderly Care Village and SAVF Senatus Service Centre. Her academic interests include child welfare, trauma-informed practice, and intergenerational care. Elza previously served on the 2023–2024 committee of ASASWEI’s Special Interest Group 2: Ecometrics and Evidence-Based Assessment. Authenticity, a commitment to meaningful service that uplifts others, and resilience are the guiding values that shape her professional path.
Is there a Second Presenter? Yes
Title Prof.
Lastname Malan
Firstname Hanelie
eMail Hanelie.Malan@nwu.ac.za
Mobile 0838220887
Institution North-West University
Biosketch Hanelie Malan is an Associate Professor and Head of the Social Work Department at North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus. She holds a BA (Social Work), BA Honours (Psychology), MA (Industrial Psychology), and PhD (Social Work) from NWU. As programme manager of the Master’s in Social Work: Child Protection, she draws on extensive practice experience in child protection, child and youth care, and medical social work. With a decade of teaching experience, she has presented internationally and published in peer-reviewed journals. Her research focuses on child protection, particularly adoption, assessment tools, and the Signs of Safety approach. She is passionate about supporting social work educators and students.
Is there a Third Presenter? No
Title of Presentatation Rapid Review of Child Maltreatment Assessment Models in Custody Dispute Cases
Theme Selection THEME 2: Social Work and the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Subtheme TWO Selection SUB 2.3 Work with special and vulnerable populations (children, families, women, older persons, LGBTQIA+ etc).
Select your Presentation Type Oral Presentation
Abstract Child protection assessments within the context of child custody disputes are complex and challenging to deal with. A custody dispute cases often involves a lack of trust, anger, repetitive litigation, fearful parental relationships, blame projection, refusal to cooperate, allegations of abuse, and sabotaging parent-child relationships. Despite advancements in child protection assessment models since the 20th Century, social workers still face challenges in handling allegations of child maltreatment in child custody disputes, due to the inadequacy and rigor of existing child protection assessment models and tools. This study utilises a rapid review methodology that aims to identify and synthesise literature on child maltreatment assessment models which are globally available to assist social workers in cases of child custody disputes. Comprehensive searches were undertaken by applying the North-West University’s OneSearch engine. Using a rapid review approach, the empirical data extracted from quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method studies were analysed. Based on the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 22 studies were included in this review. The findings confirm the need of considering harmful co-parenting behaviours and attitudes that are unique yet typical in high conflict custody dispute cases. The findings further confirmed that by incorporating the harmful behavioural factors into multi-method assessment instruments, such as structured surveys, decision trees, and qualitative interviews the professional judgement, recommendations and accountability of statutory social workers are improved. The use of inconsistent definitions associated with psychological abuse or the omission of these definitions within the current scope of child protection practise is a hinderance in achieving standardised assessment results. The incorporation of assessment frameworks that are theoretically founded in social work theories such as ecological systems and ecological transactional frameworks bear higher assessment rigor to the social work profession and should ground the development of upcoming assessment instruments, in future.
Title Mr
Firstname Jean-Paul
Lastname Pophaim
Does the Abstract fit the selected Theme? Yes
What Area does this Abstract Focus on? Practice
Status Accepted
Title
Firstname
Lastname
Does the Abstract fit the selected Theme? Yes
What Area does this Abstract Focus on? Practice
Status Pending Review