Every voice counts : hearing from young children in residential resources

The importance of involving children and youth in out-of-home care in evaluating and planning child welfare services has gained momentum as government agencies strive to increase their accountability to service users and the general public. Recent research supporting their participation has also revealed a strong link between children being heard, and protecting them from harm and abuse. Including the voices of children and youth in decision-making and planning can also increase the likelihood of achieving successful outcomes for children and families. Young children between 5 and 10 years of age however, are commonly excluded from planning and evaluation activities, which are assumed to be beyond their cognitive capabilities. The project Every Voice Counts challenges this exclusion by offering a pragmatic and ethical Interview Protocol to facilitate the involvement of young children in child welfare evaluations and planning activities.--Page ii.