Which participation practices can be found in child welfare service records?

This study examined 216 child welfare service records from Norwegian agencies to understand how children's participation is documented across different stages of the welfare process. Researchers found that participation varies significantly depending on the phase of the case, who the child speaks with, and the topics discussed. Individual conversations between children and child welfare workers about welfare-related issues are most likely to result in the child's views being recorded in their files. The study reveals gaps in how children's participation is currently documented in child welfare services.

Key points

• Document analysis covered 216 child welfare records from four Norwegian Child Welfare Services
• Participation practices vary across different phases: investigation, supportive measures, and care
• The person the child talks with, the topic discussed, and the process phase are crucial factors affecting whether participation is documented
• Individual conversations with child welfare workers on welfare topics increase the probability that children's views are documented
• Insufficient participation practices are found across child welfare cases

Limitations

This study only examines what is documented in records, not actual participation experiences or outcomes for children. The findings are limited to Norwegian child welfare services and may not reflect practices or documentation patterns in other countries or service systems.