Aims:
- To advance our knowledge of the effectiveness and efficiency of children's services across the statutory, voluntary and independent sectors.
- To advance our conceptual understanding of the psychosocial development of children and the diverse meanings of family life across the life span in a changing and multi-cultural society.
- To contribute and to disseminate policy and practice knowledge which will enhance the well being of children in their families and communities.
- To work in collaboration with or on behalf of child and family agencies in the statutory, voluntary and private sectors in the United Kingdom and overseas.
Objectives:
- To seek funding to allow its members to undertake research which will contribute to the development of knowledge on children and families and on the services which may enhance their well being.
- To undertake commissioned research on a wide range of child and family issues, in particular with a view to relating research to theory , policy, law and practice.
- To develop new research methodologies which reflect the diversity of the issues which need to be addressed on behalf of children and families.
- To promote interdisciplinarity and inter-agency approaches in research and evaluation. In particular, to further explore ways of establishing the views of family members, especially children about services which affect them.
- To provide advice on research matters to those who offer services which contribute to the welfare of children and families.
- To disseminate the findings of research to policy makers, practitioners, lawyers, academic colleagues, parents, children, their carers, and those who provide, plan or manage services which aim to enhance the welfare of children and their families.
