Peer-reviewed article
Participation in practice in child welfare: processes, benefits and challenges
Bernadine Brady, Carmel Devaney, Rebecca Jackson ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examines how the Youth Advocate Programme in Ireland implements child participation in child welfare practice. The organisation works with high-risk young people using a strength-based, family-driven approach that aims to include young people's voices in decisions affecting them. The research identifies that successful participation requires organisational commitment at all levels and staff support, but faces challenges in consistency and resources.
Key points
- YAP Ireland uses a strength-based, wraparound service model that is family-driven and youth-guided for high-risk young people
- Critical success factors include commitment to participation embedded in policy, practice and organisational culture at all levels
- Staff scaffolding of participation (supporting young people to engage) is essential to implementation
- Challenges include ensuring participation principles are applied consistently across the organisation
- Resourcing adequate participation activities is a significant barrier
Limitations
This is a reflective case study of one organisation in Ireland, so findings may not generalise to other child welfare settings or countries. The document does not provide quantitative data on outcomes or impacts of participation on young people's well-being.
Abstract
Internationally, there has been a significant focus in policy and practice on the participation of children and young people in decisions that affect them, underpinned by respect for their rights under Article 12 of the UNCRC. While children’s participation has become a core focus for practice improvement in child welfare services, there is a dearth of practical examples of how participation is implemented in organisations. In this paper, we provide a reflective case study of participation in practice in the Youth Advocate Programme (YAP) in Ireland, a large non-profit child welfare organisation. YAP Ireland works with young people who are considered ‘high risk’ using a strength-based approach in a wraparound service that is family-driven and youth-guided. Drawing on qualitative interviews and focus groups with young people, parents, advocates, and staff and management, we describe and critically analyse YAP’s approach to participation. Critical factors in practice include a commitment to participation in policy, practice and culture at all levels of the organisation and scaffolding of participation by staff. Challenges include ensuring that participation principles are upheld consistently across the organisation and resourcing participation.