Understanding System Change in Child Protection and Welfare

This book provides an account of the experience of a multifaceted system-change programme to strengthen the capacity of Irelands statutory child protection and welfare agency in the areas of prevention, early intervention, and family support. It adds to the emerging knowledge-base on developing, implementing, and evaluating system change in child protection and welfare and contributes to understandings of the potential and limits of agency-university partnerships in the field.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 162 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book offers a detailed account of a multifaceted system-change program aimed at enhancing the capabilities of Ireland's statutory child protection and welfare agency in the domains of prevention, early intervention, and family support. Recognizing the global trend towards investing in services that aim to prevent children from entering child protection and welfare systems through early intervention, enhanced support for families, and a heightened focus on rights and participation, this text contributes to the growing body of knowledge on developing, implementing, and evaluating system change in child protection and welfare. Conducted over a four-year period by a team of University-based researchers, the study employed a diverse range of methodological approaches, involving key stakeholders such as children, parents, social workers, social care workers, service managers, agency leaders, and policy makers. Given the collaborative nature of the change process, which involved an agency-university partnership encompassing design, technical support, and evaluation, the book also sheds light on the potential and limitations of such partnerships in the field of child protection and welfare. Uniquely, the book provides a platform for agency personnel and academic experts to share their experiences, offering a multifaceted perspective on the challenges and successes encountered throughout the program.

This book is of immense interest to scholars, students, and practitioners in the fields of child protection and welfare, providing valuable insights and practical knowledge for advancing the well-being of children and families.

Weight: 274g
Dimension: 233 x 156 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367706821