“You Only Know Me by Reports”: a Therapeutic Approach to Social Reports

This article examines the role of social reports in care proceedings and their impact on the well-being of girls in residential care. Social reports detail girls’ social histories, including their family relationships, school performance, and social strengths, as well as whether they have a mental illness, use drugs, or have been abused or neglected. The social report is the most important document presented to the care-plan committee, and to the youth court judge prior to the court hearing. This article brings together themes from social work theories and legal academic fields, which merge in care proceedings. The findings conclude that there is a significant gap between how girls at risk experience their social reports versus the reports’ potential for improving their well-being. Based on the analysis of interviews with girls at risk in secure residential care in Israel, the author suggests how to reduce their objection to social reports and improve their well-being.