Secondary traumatization of child protection officers in Bedouin society in Israel

Abstract

Abstract In the Bedouin society in Israel, Child Protection Officers (CPOs) are exposed to the risk of secondary traumatization due to their work’s challenging character. They navigate through a complicated, complex field of cultural traditions and institutional structures. Protecting children at risk becomes a daunting task and often puts CPOs at high risk because of the families’ resistance. Treating difficult cases such as murder and sexual abuse leaves them with mental scars that are not awarded treatment. Many leave the role and some drop out of social work entirely and retrain for another profession. This qualitative study investigated nineteen CPOs’ experiences. Data analysis identified three themes: (1) ‘Hidden shadows of trauma’—the consequences of secondary traumatization, represented by CPOs who left the social work profession. (2) ‘Being torn between two worlds’: the price of double loyalty, a feeling of social rejection, experienced by CPOs who felt more loyal to Israeli law and less to their society’s values. They left the field of child protection but continued to work as social workers. (3) ‘Justice in the heavens’: between despair and hope, this theme was represented by CPOs able to deal with the consequences of their challenging work, who independently turned for help.

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