Centre for Applied Childhood Studies

Introduction

The Centre for Applied Childhood Studies is nationally and internationally renowned for producing research, policy and practice that promotes social equality and the well-being of children and families. We are committed to maximising the impact of knowledge by ensuring a focus on applied research, promoting inter-professional engagement, and through varied dissemination methods. Our research strategy is to:

produce knowledge of national and international relevance based on interdisciplinary research on conceptualisations of childhood and on issues affecting children, young people and their families
promote research, policy and practice which treats young people as participants in their own right
critically reflect on and evaluate evidence on practice and policy interventions in children's development, care and support
disseminate the results of research through publications, training, consultancies, conferences, seminars and policy formulation
enhance research and publication skills for early career researchers and postgraduate students engaged in childhood research
use research findings and methodologies to inform teaching and continued professional development in the field of children’s social care

Research within the Centre is multidisciplinary and involves academic staff and partner agencies from the fields of health, social work, psychology, criminology and sociology. Currently working in 16 countries, our international partners include universities from North America, Europe, South East Asia, Africa, Australia, the Caribbean and several international organisations: EU departments, UNICEF, UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) and ECLAC (Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean). We have partnerships with many agencies including formal arrangements for collaborative research with Stop It Now! (USA), REFUGE, and Action for Children

Director: Professor Adele Jones

The activities of the Centre are coordinated by Sue Hanson.

Current research being undertaken by staff and PhD students is themed around several key areas:

Child Protection

Child protection systems, policy and practice (Parton, Peckover, Jones, Gallagher, Manby, Masson, Hodson, Leslie)
Domestic abuse (Peckover, Brookes, Neville, Golding, Locke)
Separated families (looked after children, migration/trafficking, female child soldiers) (Gallagher, Jones, Smith, Neville, Ochen)
Child sexual abuse and exploitation (Jones, Trotman-Jemmott, Logue, Wazinsky, Blyth, Neville, Woodiwiss, Masson, Pasura, Golding, Lloyd)
Neglect (Peckover, Piper, Parton)