Transnational Social Work With Unaccompanied Minors' Parents Abroad: Findings From a Qualitative Study in Germany

ABSTRACT This article presents selected results on transnational social work with unaccompanied minors' (UMs) parents abroad. For the purpose of this study, the perspectives of 20 social workers and pedagogical staff who work in various residential care settings in Germany are highlighted. Data was collected between 2019 and 2022, with a longer break due to the Covid‐19 pandemic. Data collection and analysis followed a constructivist grounded theory approach. The results provide insights into how these professionals engage in transnational social work with UMs' parents abroad, how they justify this engagement as well as barriers that hinder social workers/pedagogical staff in this regard. Potential benefits of transnational social work with UMs' parents abroad are discussed. While different approaches to transnational parental work are employed and seem beneficial, it is evident that transnational social work with families of UMs is not yet a standard practice. Social workers/pedagogical staff included in the study did not refer to any standardized, theoretically or empirically based concepts or guidelines for engaging in transnational social work. Instead, individual approaches were followed based on diverse personal justifications. Behind the background of the high relevance of UMs' family relationships, the article suggests recommendations for future research that should address the conceptualization of transnational social work, discuss ethical issues in transnational social work and evaluate practical cross‐border interventions.