The research area have different designs and theoretical approaches. The different designs include, for example, prospective and retrospective, comparative and experimental, cross-sectional and longitudinal designs. The theoretical approaches include both inductive and deductive reasoning. The CFWR can be categorised into three categories corresponding to child, family and welfare:

Research on children and childhood

Focus on different childhoods, living conditions and everyday life; children’s rights, perspective and participation; children in vulnerability, at risk or in need; children’s experiences of social work interventions and out-of-home care; the impact of class, gender and ethnicity.

Research on family and parenthood

Focus on families with children, cohabitant or separated parents, parenthood in natural, adoptive and foster families; “good enough” parenting and vulnerable families; families with social and mental health problems; parental perspectives on children, care and social work interventions; the impact of class, gender and ethnicity.

Research on welfare, interventions and service organisation

Comparative studies of family policy, family practice and child welfare systems, focus on family support programs, foster care and residential care; implementation and outcome of prevention and treatment programs; impact of children’s advocacy centres; assessment and child welfare decisions; professional social work and social worker discretion.

Reseach networks

A network-based organisation at Lund University, focusing on child rights.

Research network on child and family interventions.