Child-Directed child Welfare research and development in Denmark: Children’s participation in child welfare research and development in Denmark

This chapter will present, discuss and elaborate the findings concerning children and adolescent’s participation in social work practice in child protection (or child welfare), research and development based on two studies. One is a three-year study and research project on using Signs of Safety / Safety Plans in Child Welfare in a municipality in Denmark in 2011 – 2014 (Roskilde project). The other is a project about – adolescent as researchers and agents of change in a local community (project Bella-2016-2019). The purpose is to emphasize and draw attention to the importance and quality of children’s participation and rise some reflections regarding recognition of children and young people as competent actors, transcending the dichotomy-vulnerable or resourceful and underlining the need for an intersectionality perspective. This chapter explores openings, opportunities, obligations and considerations focusing on
(1) What does social work practice and research look like/ mean in practice based on the two projects?
(2) What were the outcomes of the participation of children and young people in a child-directed project for the children?
(3) What lessons did we learn for social work practice and research?
These questions are important because there is a dearth of research on children’s participation in child protection-related processes in Denmark. Here I will show child directed social work practice and research. And then argue how and in which way participation make a process of empowering children. It shows that