Peer-reviewed article
Children's participation in child protection: A scoping review of influencing factors and contrasting perspectives of children and professionals
Sterre van der Heyden, Mariëlle R. Bruning, Joost G. Daams, Irma M. Hein ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This scoping review examined 83 studies to understand what factors influence whether children in the child protection system can participate in decisions about their own cases. The researchers found that children and professionals have very different views on what participation means: professionals focus on formal procedures and standardized processes, while children see it as primarily about emotional connection and being heard. The review identified three levels of influence—cultural, organizational, and interpersonal—that shape participation opportunities. The main conclusion is that bridging this gap requires combining procedural safeguards with genuine relational responsiveness.
Key points
- 83 studies were systematically reviewed to identify factors influencing child participation in child protection decision-making
- Three levels of influence identified: cultural, organizational, and interpersonal (including professionals, parents, and child factors)
- Children experienced participation primarily as an emotional and relational process, while professionals emphasized structured and standardized approaches
- Children involved in child protection consistently report feeling unheard despite their right to participate
- The divergence between children's and professionals' perspectives reflects structurally embedded conditions rather than conflicting intentions
Limitations
This is a scoping review that synthesizes existing literature rather than collecting new primary data, so it cannot provide definitive evidence about the effectiveness of any specific intervention to improve child participation. The review does not appear to evaluate the outcomes of implemented changes or programmes designed to bridge the gap between professional and child perspectives.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite children's right to participate in decisions affecting them, children involved in the child protection system consistently report feeling unheard. To strengthen child participation, a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing child participation is needed. OBJECTIVE: This scoping review aims to identify factors influencing child participation in child protection decision-making and to compare which factors are emphasized by children and professionals. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Studies included in the review involved children and young adults who have been subject to child protection orders, caregivers of affected children, and child protection professionals, as well as report- and case file analyses, observations, and standardized assessments examining factors associated with child participation. METHODS: A systematic search identified 83 eligible studies. After identifying the influencing factors and qualifying the quantitative data, a qualitative content analysis was conducted to map and categorize these factors. RESULTS: Three levels of influence were identified: cultural, organizational, and interpersonal, the latter comprising professionals, parental, and child sublevels, including the relational factors between them, forming an ecological framework. Contrasting perspectives of children and professionals revealed that professionals emphasized structured and standardized approaches, whereas children experienced participation primarily as an emotional and relational process. CONCLUSIONS: The divergence between children's and professionals' perspectives appears to reflect structurally embedded conditions rather than conflicting intentions. Bridging this gap requires an adaptive, integrated approach that treats procedural safeguards and relational responsiveness not as competing priorities, but as mutually reinforcing conditions for meaningful participation.