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Effective child well-being practices, barriers and priority actions: survey findings from service providers and policymakers in 22 countries during COVID-19.
- Source :
- Journal of Children's Services; 2023, Vol. 18 Issue 3/4, p207-232, 26p
- Publication Year :
- 2023
-
Abstract
- Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore 232 service providers' and policymakers' experiences of supporting children's well-being during the pandemic, across sectors, in 22 countries – including Kenya, the Philippines, South Africa, India, Scotland, Sweden, Canada and the USA, in the last quarter of 2020. Design/methodology/approach: A smartphone survey delivered via a custom-built app containing mostly open-ended questions was used. Respondents were recruited via professional networks, newsletters and social media. Qualitative content analysis was used. Findings: The findings reveal numerous system-level challenges to supporting children's well-being, particularly virus containment measures, resource deficiencies and inadequate governance and stakeholder coordination. Those challenges compounded preexisting inequalities and poorly affected the quality, effectiveness and reach of services. As a result, children's rights to an adequate standard of living; protection from violence; education; play; and right to be heard were impinged upon. Concurrently, the findings illustrate a range of adaptive and innovative practices in humanitarian and subsistence support; child protection; capacity-building; advocacy; digitalisation; and psychosocial and educational support. Respondents identified several priority areas – increasing service capacity and equity; expanding technology use; mobilising cross-sectoral partnerships; involving children in decision-making; and ensuring more effective child protection mechanisms. Practical implications: This study seeks to inform resilience-enabling policies and practices that foster equity, child and community empowerment and organisational resilience and innovation, particularly in anticipation of future crises. Originality/value: Using a novel approach to gather in-the-moment insights remotely, this study offers a unique international and multi-sectoral perspective, particularly from low- and middle-income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- WELL-being
HEALTH services accessibility
MIDDLE-income countries
HUMANITARIANISM
ATTITUDES of medical personnel
STAKEHOLDER analysis
POPULATION geography
SURVEYS
QUALITATIVE research
SELF-efficacy
ORGANIZATIONAL change
CHILD welfare
LOW-income countries
DECISION making
RESEARCH funding
POLICY sciences
CONTENT analysis
COVID-19 pandemic
PSYCHOLOGICAL resilience
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 17466660
- Volume :
- 18
- Issue :
- 3/4
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Children's Services
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 173689680
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1108/JCS-10-2022-0028