Being a part of the community and working within it: Arab child protection officers in Israel and their unique challenges

Abstract Israel’s Youth Law (Care and Supervision), enacted in 1960, outlines protocols for addressing the needs of minors at risk, particularly those subjected to maltreatment within their families. Arab child protection officers (CPOs) in Israel operate within a multifaceted social milieu characterized by a patriarchal and traditional structure and undergoing transformation. This society contends with substantial violence and the pervasive influence of criminal organizations in diverse Arab localities. This exploratory qualitative study used thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews to examine the challenges faced by 30 Arab CPOs working in social services bureaus in Israel. The findings reveal challenges specific to Arab CPOs and their society. These challenges are manifested in the implications of CPOs’ residing in the localities where they work, misunderstanding of the CPOs’ role, the impact of criminal organizations, challenges intrinsic to the CPOs’ role, and issues related to the authoritative enforcement of the Youth Law.