Children’s Participation in Decision Making From Child Welfare Workers’ Perspectives: A Systematic Review

2021/01/11 by Karmen Toros
Psychology · Social Sciences · #Child Abuse and Trauma #Child Welfare and Adoption #Children's Rights and Participation

paper · doi:10.1177/1049731520984844

openalex publication_date 2021/01/11 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30

Abstract

This article explores child welfare workers’ experiences of children’s participation in decision making in the child protection system. The systematic review follows the principles of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement and includes 12 peer-reviewed articles published in academic journals from 2009 to 2019. Findings indicate that children’s participation in decision making is generally limited or nonexistent. The age of the child is an important determining factor concerning whether the child is given the opportunity to participate in decision making. Potential harm for children that may result from participation is considered when deciding on whether to include a child in the decision-making process.

Citations

• Using thematic analysis in psychology
• ‘Voice’ is not enough: conceptualising Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
• Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement

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• Containment: Exploring the concept of agency in children’s statutory encounters with social workers