Publications from ODSW Social Insights: Letters by DSW (Vol 2) | Page 100

Practice Issues
a dysfunctional or violent relationship. For many of these individuals and
families, their daily concerns are about their immediate familial struggles to
get care organised, getting services to work in their interest and maintaining
a balance in a life that is always in disequilibrium. For such persons, the help
of social service professionals and volunteers can ease their load.
As the social sector steps up, it should draw on research and evaluation
which help us to understand why some children from poor or dysfunctional
families can climb right up to a situation of stability and sufficiency while
others seemed to be stuck almost from birth in a life of struggle and stress.
So what are some of these insights that now must increasingly inform our
strategies, services and programmes?
First, brain research or neuroscience 2 now shows clearly the importance of
the first few years of life in determining the adults we become. With this, we
now make a determined effort to intervene in the early years and wherever
possible, intervene early to improve family life without undermining the
foundation that a family provides.
Second, we know the importance of developing character and resilience
even while acquiring knowledge in education. We need to draw on research
that helps to design measures and efforts that build resilience and help
people to bounce back after facing disappointments, failures and rejection.
Third, the research is also now clear that social connections 3 and experiences
are vitally important in helping people get on. These connections that help
the better off in society to excel and spur on are often lacking among the
poor. Measures and efforts must therefore help to increase and expand
the social connections for those who have less resources in order to level
the playing field with opportunities for everyone. Where it is possible, the
focus should be the family as it is after all almost a welfare, education and
counselling system all wrapped up into one for the individual. The research
is clear that children in families that break apart are more than twice as
likely to experience poverty as those whose families stay together. That’s
why strengthening families is a priority at both the national and programme
level.
Fourth, we will need to try to offer the appropriate support to those who
have specific, treatable problems such as various types of addictions, poor
2

3

Shonkoff, J. (2012). The Lifelong Effects of Early Childhood Adversity and Toxic Stress.
American Academy of Pediatrics, 129(1), 232 - 248. d