The Complex Role of Child Protection Officers in Arab Society in Israel: Focus on Power, State Connections and Absence of Indigenous Knowledge.

This article examines the challenges faced by child protection officers (CPOs) working with Israel’s Arab population, an Indigenous minority experiencing systemic discrimination and socio-economic disparities. Empowered by the Youth Law (Care and Supervision), 1960, CPOs navigate tensions arising from their legally mandated authority, which is often perceived negatively within their traditional, collective communities as representing the Israeli state and its institutions. The study identifies key obstacles including limited community-based therapeutic resources, lack of Indigenous knowledge integration in interventions, insufficient institutional support to prevent burnout, and strained relationships with other social workers and community members. These findings highlight the complex intersection of ethnicity, professional role, and state policy, offering insights relevant to social work practice in minority populations facing structural inequalities.