Equity and social justice in child, youth and family welfare - Brighton 2023
Equity and social justice in child, youth and family welfare - Brighton 2023
CFJ colleagues, with partners at Swansea University will deliver a symposium at the EuSARF conference 12th-15th of September. This international conference attracts delegates from across the globe and this year is focused on social justice.
The title of the symposium is: "What kind of justice is family justice?" Karen, Steffi, Mariam, Bachar (Lancaster), Lucy and Laura (Swansea) will present a series of papers that share findings from novel linkages of large-scale data, interrogating different elements of the operation and outcomes of the family courts in England and Wales. In England and Wales. The Family Courts are underpinned by principles of liberal legalism, prizing equality or arms, an even-handed approach to cases, proportionality and protection of rights. However, findings from the series of presentations uncover a distinct postcode lottery, and raise critical questions about whether parents with mental health needs are sufficiently supported to participate in the family courts.
The team comprise the Family Justice Data Partnership, a collaboration funded by the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory, which has been undertaking completely new linkages of large-scale administrative datasets, with measurable impacts on policy and practice. The team combine critical theory with cutting edge approaches to data linkage, to address questions that are high on the agenda for both families and practitioners, working in the hard-pressed environment of the family courts. In England and Wales, family life is increasingly 'on the edge' - and the poorest families are at the greatest risk of appearing in the family courts and losing children from their care. At the same time, reform of family justice has set targets for practitioners that are increasingly unworkable in a context of diminished resources. In this context, the series of papers offers vital empirical analyses at scale, addressing gaps in evidence, that are leading to vital adjustments to practice.
Find out more on the EUSARF website