Child-centred Social Work in India: Journeys and the Way Forward

This book presents unique semi-autobiographical narratives by leading social work educators and practitioners in India who have done innovative work in the field of child-centred social work (CSW). The practitioners narrate their career journeys and contributions to research, policy, and practice in this field, discuss innovations, achievements, and impact of the work done, and share reflections on the challenges faced, lessons learnt, and the way forward. The volume provides valuable insights into the indigenisation of CSW education and practice and offers suggestions towards developing effective CSW.

The authors draw attention towards the need for expansion of preventive service systems for children in the family, community, and school settings, as well as support to and replication of the innovative sociolegal service projects, in coordination with reforms in the justice system to ensure child rights, and human resource planning for child-centred social workers. They also propose promoting CSW education in institutions of social work education to strengthen linkages between theory, research, policy, and practice, and creating a national association for child-centred social workers to build synergy between social work practitioners and educators.

The book will be useful to policy makers, educators, students, and practitioners of social work, child development, and child rights. It will also be useful for CSW training institutions and counsellors in schools and government and voluntary organisations.

Murli Desai holds a master’s degree in social work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, India and a doctoral degree in social work from Washington University in St. Louis, USA. She worked as a Professor at TISS for the major part of her career where she headed the Unit for Family Studies and then Social Work Education and Practice Cell. Subsequently, she also worked at the Departments of Social Work at the National University of Singapore, and the Seoul National University.

Nilima Mehta obtained her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from the College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan, and a doctoral degree in Sociology from the SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai, India. As a child protection expert, she has been associated with several civil society organisations and the government for policy development, and has been a Visiting Professor at schools of social work. She was the first Chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee, Mumbai.