Cocks, Jessica, Johnston, Lou, Vega, Jeanete, and Thorpe, Ros (2024) Parent and Family Peer Advocacy in Child Welfare: Transforming Research, Policy and Practice. In: Fernandez, Elizabeth, Welbourne, Penelope, Lee, Brthany, and Ma, Joyce. L.C., (eds.) Routledge Handbook of Child and Family Social Work Research : Knowledge-Building, Application, and Impact. Taylor & Francis, London, UK, pp. 698-713.

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Abstract

This chapter defines and argues for critically informed peer parent and family advocacy (parent advocacy) in child welfare, where parents with experience of child welfare processes help other parents to navigate these processes. Parent advocacy occurs at four levels in child welfare: individual, group, community and systems. Participatory processes, including parent advocacy, challenge oppressive structures and have transformative potential. While gaps remain, research into parent advocacy is growing and has linked parent advocacy to reunification, parent and family participation and other positive outcomes.

Three contemporary research studies about child welfare experiences are described and demonstrate different parent roles and participation in research. Research in Newcastle, Australia, firstly explored parent experiences in child welfare. The findings of this study then contributed to the development of a pilot parent advocacy service and a second study exploring the experiences of parent advocates. The third study, participatory action research in New York City, USA, had parent advocates as researchers. It explored families’ child welfare experiences and change ideas.

A reconceptualised role for parents and parent advocates features in a proposed participatory practice, policy and research agenda for parent advocacy in child welfare. It is proposed that participatory methods of researching parent advocacy have the potential to fill significant research gaps and mirror the participatory approaches that are needed in practice. Parent advocacy offers social workers an important opportunity to partner with lived experience, with transformative potential in child welfare.

Item ID:	83768
Item Type:	Book Chapter (Research - B1)
ISBN:	9781003241492
Copyright Information:	© 2025 selection and editorial matter, Elizabeth Fernandez, Penelope Welbourne, Bethany Lee, and Joyce L. C. Ma; individual chapters, the contributors.
Date Deposited:	15 Jan 2025 00:50
FoR Codes:	44 HUMAN SOCIETY > 4409 Social work > 440902 Counselling, wellbeing and community services @ 50% 44 HUMAN SOCIETY > 4409 Social work > 440903 Social program evaluation @ 50%
SEO Codes:	23 LAW, POLITICS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES > 2301 Community services > 230104 Children's services and childcare @ 40% 23 LAW, POLITICS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES > 2302 Government and politics > 230204 Public services policy advice and analysis @ 20% 23 LAW, POLITICS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES > 2301 Community services > 230107 Families and family services @ 40%
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