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International audience; Ethnographic methods drive numerous research investigations in sociology, education, child protection, and social work (Shaw, 2003; Hamelin-Brabant, 2006; Marchive, 2012, De Suremain, 2014; Robin, Join-Lambert, Mackiewicz, 2017). Critiques of child protection research emphasize a tendency to rely on the analysis of writ-ten reports, interviews rather than direct observation which is more accurate for a deep understanding of the educational relationship (Deshayes, 2016; Tillard, 2010). But Immersing the researcher in the intimate realms of family homes raises ethical questions, especially when the study involves children.This work builds upon doctoral research examining French strengthened home-based interventions for family reunification following out-of-home care, the court-ordered removal of children from familial abuse and/or neglect. Recognizing that a family’s course extends beyond out-of-home care, I consider how ethnographic research can enhance social workers’ approaches to supporting parents while also protecting child participants.I conducted participant observation of French social workers for one week per month from January 2019 to September 2019. Social workers visited 6 families and 22 children 0 to 14 years old. Settings included the household,a neutral venue,and social work service facilities. Considering the vulnerability of research subjects and deontology rules in France, I designed ethical resources such as info sheets, an ethics charter, and consent forms for distribution to local authorities, child protection services, and families. In my search for ethical,child-friendly resources, I discovered that scientific literature and deontology codes in France paid insufficient attention to the rights of children, such as those enumerated by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (Bell, 2008).Although some studies question the conditions of investigation in the families’ home (Tillard and Robin, 2010),child’s place in this framework remains a perspective which has been little explored in the scientific literature,especially in a child protection context. Ethical considerations are crucial for social work researchers in the context of child protection (Tillard and Robin, 2010). How does social work research within the household impact children, both during the observation and in the reporting of results (Shaw,2008)? How should researchers adjust their position according to context, particularly when they witness evidence of child endangerment (Monceau, 2017)? What are appropriate ways to obtain a child’s consent to participate in a study, whereas capacity for discernment is not defined by French law (Mallevaey, 2018)? In France, the scientific community has yet to provide adequate responses to these issues. Moreover, research in education sciences, which includes social work research, does not require review by university ethics committee and the actual ethical framework doesn’t fit ethnographic methods (Beaud and Weber, 2010).Problems arise with ethnographic interventions involving children. The presence of one or more researchers may generate fear (concerns from parents or children about interacting with strangers), rejection (throwing toys,running away),and also attachment (privileged interlocutor, play partner). The researcher is faced with securing sensitive and confidential information, which can be disclosed deliberately or without the child’s knowledge (Gagnon, 2005). Ethical issues such as these need to be discussed, particularly regarding the researcher’s responsibilities (Bruggeman, 2011). Moving forward, I wish to initiate a conversation in France on the adjustment of research ethics to protect child subjects (Filiod, 2014).229

International audience; The study was carried out in 2018, in two departments of the North of France (Nord and Pas-de-Calais) with high rates of premature adult mortality. It focuses on the pathways of children who have lost their father and/ or mother as well as the support provided to kinship carers. This question fits more broadly into the study of articulations between private assistance provided to children by family and friends, and public assistance, represented in this study by French Child Protection Services (Aide sociale à l’enfance).As part of this study, a survey was conducted through a questionnaire sent by post to all kinship carers looking after a child or young person aged under 18 years old. The questionnaire made it possible to identify kinship carers taking care of children or young people who have lost one or both parents. The analysis compares two populations (orphans / non-orphans) and the conditions in which they are cared for by their kin.; L'étude a été réalisée en 2018, dans deux départements du Nord de la France (Nord et Pas-de-Calais) avec des taux élevés de mortalité prématurée des adultes. Il s'intéresse aux parcours des enfants ayant perdu leur père et/ou mère ainsi qu'au soutien apporté aux aidants familiaux. Cette question s'inscrit plus largement dans l'étude des articulations entre l'aide privée apportée aux enfants par la famille et les amis, et l'aide publique, représentée dans cette étude par l'Aide sociale à l'enfance.Dans le cadre de cette étude, une enquête a été menée au moyen d'un questionnaire envoyé par voie postale à tous les aidants familiaux s'occupant d'un enfant ou d'un jeune de moins de 18 ans. Le questionnaire a permis d'identifier les aidants familiaux s'occupant d'enfants ou de jeunes ayant perdu un ou les deux parents. L'analyse compare deux populations (orphelins/non orphelins) et les conditions dans lesquelles ils sont pris en charge par leurs proches.

International audience

International audience