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Stabler L, Evans R, Scourfield J, Morgan F, Weightman A, Willis S, Searchfield L, Meindl M, Wood S, Nurmatov U, Kemp A, Forrester D, Brand SL. A scoping review of system-level mechanisms to prevent children being in out-of-home care. BRITISH JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WORK 2022; 52:2515-2536. [PMID: 36685801 PMCID: PMC9847665 DOI: 10.1093/bjsw/bcab213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Identifying which approaches can effectively reduce the need for out-of-home care for children is critically important. Despite the proliferation of different interventions and approaches globally, evidence summaries on this topic are limited. This study is a scoping review using a realist framework to explore what research evidence exists about reducing the number of children and young people in care. Searches of databases and websites were used to identify studies evaluating intervention effect on at least one of the following outcomes: reduction in initial entry to care; increase in family reunification post care. Data extracted from papers included type of study, outcome, type and level of intervention, effect, mechanism and moderator, implementation issues and economic (EMMIE) considerations. Data were coded by: primary outcome; level of intervention (community, policy, organisation, family or child); and type of evidence, using the realist EMMIE framework. This is the first example of a scoping review on any topic using this framework. Evaluated interventions were grouped and analysed according to system-level mechanism. We present the spread of evidence across system-level mechanisms and an overview of how each system-level mechanism might reduce the number of children in care. Implications and gaps are identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorna Stabler
- Correspondence to Lorna Stabler, Children’s Social Care Research and Development Centre (CASCADE), Cardiff University, 1-3 Museum Place, Cathays, CF10 3BD, UK. E-mail:
| | - Rhiannon Evans
- Centre for Development, Evaluation, Complexity and Implementation in Public Health Improvement (DECIPHer), Cardiff University, Cathays, CF10 3BD, UK
| | - Jonathan Scourfield
- Children’s Social Care Research and Development Centre (CASCADE), Cardiff University, Cathays, CF10 3BD, UK
| | - Fiona Morgan
- Public Health Wales, No. 2. Capital Quarter, Cardiff, CF10 4BZ, UK
| | - Alison Weightman
- Specialist Unit for Review Evidence, Cardiff University, Neuadd Meirionnydd, Cardiff, CF14 4YS, UK
| | - Simone Willis
- Specialist Unit for Review Evidence, Cardiff University, Neuadd Meirionnydd, Cardiff, CF14 4YS, UK
| | - Lydia Searchfield
- Specialist Unit for Review Evidence, Cardiff University, Neuadd Meirionnydd, Cardiff, CF14 4YS, UK
| | - Mel Meindl
- Children’s Social Care Research and Development Centre (CASCADE), Cardiff University, Cathays, CF10 3BD, UK
| | - Sophie Wood
- Children’s Social Care Research and Development Centre (CASCADE), Cardiff University, Cathays, CF10 3BD, UK
| | - Ulugbek Nurmatov
- School of Medicine, University Hospital Wales, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Alison Kemp
- School of Medicine, University Hospital Wales, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Donald Forrester
- Children’s Social Care Research and Development Centre (CASCADE), Cardiff University, Cathays, CF10 3BD, UK
| | - Sarah L Brand
- NIHR Applied Research Collaboration South West Peninsula (PenARC), University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, Devon, EX1 2LU, UK
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Huefner JC, Ainsworth F. Comparing the Effectiveness of Home-based and Group-Care Programs for Children and Young People: The Challenge and Path Forward. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/0886571x.2020.1746948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Frank Ainsworth
- School of Social Work and Human Services, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
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