Digital communication and child participation in child welfare services: a scoping review of potentials and challenges

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Article / Journal

Author(s) / editor(s):
Sofie Henze-Pedersen and Sine Kirkegaard

Year: 2024

Keywords: Digital communication, digital social work, digital technology, child participation, child welfare services
Language(s): English

Abstract:
The paper examines how digital communication tools (emails, texts, video calls, apps) can support children’s participation in child welfare casework. Drawing on a scoping review, it identifies three central themes: technologies and digital skills, the client–professional relationship, and ethical and legal dilemmas. The authors discuss how digitalisation can both enable and complicate children’s access to social workers and information, their sense of control and influence, and the experience of closeness or distance in relationships. Overall, digital communication offers new opportunities for engagement but also raises significant challenges for child participation in social work.

https://doi.org/10.1080/13691457.2024.2353854

Post created by: Virginia Signorini

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